JPH0331864A - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To set an exposure position with high accuracy by fitting the process cartridge integrally with a mirror which guides light information. CONSTITUTION:This cartridge 6 is constituted by uniting an exposure shutter 2 for light incidence fitted with the mirror 2a which reflects light from a light source, and the shutter 2 is supported rotatably and coaxially with the rotary shaft of a photosensitive drum 3. Then the cartridge 6 is loaded along the guide rail 13 of the upper main body 12 of an image forming device and when the main body 12 is rotated and returned to the position where image formation is possible, the projection 10a of the lower main body 10 presses up the projection part 2b of the shutter 2, thereby positioning the mirror 2a in a usable state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a photoreceptor and means used to form an image on the photoreceptor, such as a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, etc. The present invention relates to a process cartridge that integrally supports at least one means and is removable from an apparatus main body, and an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer or a copying machine loaded with this cartridge.

[Prior Art] In laser beam printers and the like, a reflecting mirror is generally used as a means for changing the direction of laser light emitted from a laser scanner to irradiate the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Conventionally, a reflecting mirror is directly fixed to the frame of the main body of the device to improve the accuracy of the laser beam path.

The same applies to conventional electrophotographic copying machines, in which the laser beam is converted into light reflected from the original.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the photoreceptor to which optical information is finally irradiated is located in a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body. Therefore, in order to accurately set the exposure position 11 on the photoreceptor using a reflection mirror fixed to the main body, it is necessary to accurately set the position of the cartridge with respect to the main body. Further, this requires a special positioning mechanism, which tends to complicate the structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention, which solves the above object, integrally supports a photoreceptor and at least one of the means used to form an image on the photoreceptor, and a process cartridge that is removable and has an exposure opening extending in a direction intersecting a direction of movement of the photoreceptor for irradiating the photoreceptor with light;
It has a reflecting means that takes a position that covers the opening and a position that opens the opening, and a drive mechanism that operates the reflecting means.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing eight fruits of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a light path from a light source for exposing a photoreceptor, and 2 is a light path for changing the direction of light path 1. Mirror 2 that reflects light
A is a mounting exposure shutter for introducing light, and 3 is an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for receiving and letting in light. Reference numeral 9 denotes an arm member of the exposure shaft 2 provided on the housing that supports the drum 3.

5 is a rubber-like or matrix material for covering the gap between the process cartridge 6 container and the exposure shutter 2, and prevents light from entering through the gap and exposing the drum 2 or preventing dust from entering. It's covered.

The structure is such that the process cartridge is inserted into the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus and the shutter 2 is opened by performing a predetermined operation.
As a result, the positioning of the light reflecting mirror 2a and the photosensitive drum 3 is determined naturally.

Further, since the shutter 2 is automatically closed by the reverse operation to take out the process cartridge from the main body, it is possible to prevent the reflection mirror 2a from becoming dirty.

Next, the specific opening/closing operation of the shutter 2 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship of the cartridge with the main body of the apparatus. The shutter 2 is rotatably supported coaxially with the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 3 of the cartridge housing 7. 8 in the figure is a support shaft, and the shutter 2 and the support @8 are connected by an arm 9. Further, there is a convex portion 2b at one end of the shutter 2, and by pushing up this convex portion 2b, the shutter 2 rotates in the reverse direction around the support +118, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 1, and optical information is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 3. It becomes possible to do so.

The opening and closing of the shutter 2 is automatically performed by loading the cartridge 6 into the main body of the apparatus and bringing the main body into a state capable of forming an image. As a specific example, a case will be described in which a device main body that can be divided into two as shown in FIG. 3 is used.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure is a lower main body, and the upper main body 12 is supported in the counterclockwise direction in the figure by a support @11 with respect to the lower main body 1o. The cartridge 6 is loaded along the guide rail 13 of this upper body 12. On the other hand, there is a protrusion 1 on the lower body.
0a, and by rotating the upper main body 12 clockwise at the same time to make it possible to form an image, this protrusion 10a
By pushing up the convex portion 2b, the mirror 2a is made usable.

Incidentally, as for the configuration of the cartridge of the embodiment, in the case of the cartridge shown in FIG. It consists of a cleaning device 15.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the shutter may be constructed of an accordion-type foldable member 2d, and a reflecting mirror 2C may be attached to one end of the shutter. Such a shutter may be provided with a guide member that restricts movement of the shutter member so that it can be opened and closed manually.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since a mirror for guiding optical information is integrally provided in the Brose cartridge itself, it is possible to set the exposure position with high precision even in a process cartridge that is removable from the main body of the apparatus. became.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a process cartridge showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of the main body of the device, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cartridge showing another embodiment. In the figure, 2 is the shutter;
2a is a reflecting mirror, 3 is a photosensitive tram, and 7 is a housing. Diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process cartridge that integrally supports a photoreceptor and at least one of the means used to form an image on the photoreceptor and is removable from the main device, in which the photoreceptor is exposed to light in order to be irradiated with light. It is characterized by having the following: a housing provided with an exposure opening extending in a direction intersecting the direction of movement of the body; a reflecting means that takes a position that covers the opening and a position that opens the opening; and a drive mechanism that operates the reflecting means. process cartridge.