JPH0345963A - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate replacement of a main cartridge because of the expiration of its service life which is caused only by recovered waste developer by providing the developer recovering case of a cleaning means so that the case can be attached to and detached from the main cartridge. CONSTITUTION:The waste developer recovering case 161 of the cleaning means 16 is provided on the main cartridge 11a so that the using frequency of a second developing means 13 being an interchangeable sub-cartridge 10b is high and much of the waste developer around an image carrier 11 is generated by the second developing means 13, and therefore, the waste developer recovering case 161 becomes filled with the waste developer, with a sufficient developer left in a first developing means 15. However, such inconvenience that the service life of the main cartridge 10a is expired due to the full charge of the waste developer is eliminated, because the waste developer recovering case 161 of the cleaning means 16 is interchangeable to the main cartridge 10a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a process cartridge that can be attached to and removed from an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a process cartridge for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method.

(Conventional Technique 8K) In image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and laser beam printers, an image carrier and predetermined process equipment arranged around it are formed into cartridges and are integrally attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It has become freely available. Such a process cartridge is provided to facilitate maintenance of equipment within the process cartridge.

Now, an example of the above process cartridge will be explained with reference to FIG. 8. Reference numeral 200 is a photosensitive drum which is an image bearing member, and surrounding the photosensitive drum 200 are a charger 201, a first developer 202, and so on. Recharging device 203, second developing device 204. The cleaning means 40 is integrally housed in the process cartridge 206.
07, which can be integrally attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-37564).

Then, the photosensitive drum 200 uniformly charged by the charger 201 is exposed to the first write signal LI and the first electrostatic charge WI is generated.
Once the image is formed, the first electrostatic latent image is formed using a color developer (
The image is developed by a first developing device 202 having color toner) to become a first developed image. Subsequently, the photosensitive drum 200 is uniformly charged again by the recharging device 203, and the photosensitive drum 200
A second write signal L2 is exposed onto the second electrostatic PI
An I-image is formed. The second electrostatic latent image is developed by a second developing device 204 having a black developer (black toner) to form a second electrostatic latent image.
It becomes a developed image. Thus, first and second developed images of different colors are formed on the photosensitive drum 200, and the first and second developed images are formed on the photosensitive drum 200. The second developed image is transferred onto the transfer paper via a transfer charger (not shown). Further, the photosensitive drum after the transfer of the developed image is cleaned by scraping off the residual developer on the photosensitive drum 200 into the waste toner storage section 205a by the plate 205b of the cleaning device 205.

Generally, in the process cartridge 207, a first developer 202 for color toner is detachably attached to the remaining main cartridge 207a as a sub-cartridge 207b, and only this first developer 202 can be replaced separately. There are things. Therefore, if all the color toner in the first developing device 202 is consumed, it becomes necessary to replace the first developing device 202, which is the sub-cartridge 207b, with a new one. On the other hand, the main cartridge 207a reaches the end of its life when all the black toner in the second developing device 204 is consumed, when the charging function of the photosensitive drum 200 deteriorates due to repeated charging and exposure, and when the cleaning device 205 reaches the end of its life. A case may be considered in which the waste toner storage section 205a is filled with waste toner.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the process cartridge 207, the first developing device 202, which is the sub-cartridge 207b,
This is because the amount of waste toner collected in the cleaning device 205 differs depending on the frequency of use.

Cleaning device 205 inside the main cartridge 207a
Even if the capacity of the cleaning device 204 is designed to be a constant value, if the sub-cartridge 207b is frequently used, even if there is sufficient black toner remaining in the second developing device 204, the cleaning device 20
In some cases, the waste toner storage section 205a of No. 5 is filled with waste toner. Even in such a case, the main cartridge 207a has reached the end of its service life and needs to be replaced with a new one, resulting in the waste of discarding the second developing device 204 in which a sufficient amount of black toner remains. Also, the cleaning device 205
There is also the idea of increasing the capacity of the process cartridge 207, but in this case, the process cartridge 207 becomes large, resulting in a drawback that the main body of the apparatus becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a process in which the developer collection case of the cleaning means is detachably attached to the main cartridge, thereby eliminating the need for replacement due to the life of the collected waste developer. Provide cartridges.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an image bearing member, a latent image forming section disposed around the image bearing member, a first developing means, and a cleaning means. A process cartridge comprising a main cartridge that is integrally attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, and one or more sub-cartridges that have a second developing means and are detachable from the main cartridge, A waste developer collection case of the cleaning means is provided to be detachably attached to the main cartridge.

(Function) Even if the second developing means, which is a replaceable sub-cartridge, is used frequently and a lot of waste developer is generated around the image bearing member by the second developing means, the waste developer collection case of the cleaning means is removed. Since the main cartridge is replaceable, the waste developer collection case will become full of waste developer while leaving enough developer in the first developing means, which will shorten the life of the main cartridge. There is no inconvenience such as getting stuck.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a laser beam printer among image forming apparatuses as an example.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagram showing how the sub-cartridge is attached to the main cartridge, Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a laser beam printer equipped with this process cartridge, and Figure 4 shows the front door of the laser beam printer shown in Figure 3. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the opened state, and Fig. 6 is a diagram of a modified embodiment of the waste toner container.
The figure is a sectional view of the present process cartridge in which the method of supporting the sub-cartridge has been changed.

First, the entire laser beam printer will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Reference numeral 11 is a photosensitive drum that is an image carrier, and around the photosensitive drum 11 are a charger 12 and a recharging device as a latent image forming means. container 14, a first container as a developing means;
A second developing device 13° 15 and a cleaning device 16 as a cleaning means are disposed, and these are integrally housed in a cartridge container 17, and are integrally disposed as a process cartridge 10 in the main body l of the apparatus in a detachable manner. ing.

Such a process cartridge 10 is used when the photosensitive drum 11 deteriorates or when the developer (toner) in the first and second developing units 13 and 15 is consumed and used up, the process cartridge 10 is used to remove these devices, including related devices. This is intended to facilitate maintenance by replacing the parts in one piece.

The device body l on the left side in Figure 1 of the process cartridge lO
Inside, first and second write signals are transmitted via a laser beam,
, L, the first and second scanner units 20.21
A cassette 22. paper feed roller 23,
Registration roller 24, transfer charger 25. Belt conveyor 2
6. Fixing device 27. Conveyance rollers 28, 29, paper ejection tray 3
0 is set.

Thus, the photosensitive tram 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 12.
1, the first write signal L1 is sent from the first scanner unit 20.
is exposed to light and a first electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11, the first electrostatic latent image is developed by the first developing device 13 having color developer (color toner) and is exposed to light. This is converted into a first developed image. Subsequently, the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged again by the recharging device 14, and the second write signal L2 is exposed from the second scanner unit 21 onto the photosensitive drum 11, thereby forming a second electrostatic PfI image.

The second electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized by a second developing device 15 having a black developer (black toner) to become a second developed image. In this way, the photosensitive drum ll has different colored first . A second developed image will be formed.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P in the cassette 22 is sent to the registration rollers 24 via the paper feed roller 23, and
4, the timing is adjusted and the light is sent toward the photosensitive tram 11. The first and second developed images on the photosensitive drum 11 are transferred to the surface of the transfer paper P that has reached the photosensitive drum 11 via the transfer charger 25, and then sent to the fixing device 27 via the belt conveyor 26. It will be done. When the developed image on the surface of the transfer paper P is fixed by being heated and pressurized by a fixing device 27, the transfer paper P is stacked on a paper discharge tray 30 via conveyance rollers 28 and 29. As shown in FIG. 4, the front door section Ia of the main body 1 of the apparatus can be opened and closed forward about a support shaft 31, approximately across the transfer path of the transfer paper P, and is used for jam removal and processing. It is used for purposes such as replacing the cartridge 10.

・Now, to explain the process cartridge IO in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the process cart 1
There is a photosensitive tram 11. Charger 12, recharger 14, first . Second developer 13.15. A cleaning device 16 is housed therein, and the first developing device 13 serves as a sub-cartridge 10b and is used as a sub-cartridge 10b for the remaining main cartridge 10a.
The main cartridge 10a is detachably disposed in the cartridge container 17, and can be replaced separately from the main cartridge 10a. Further, while the second developing device 15 has black toner which is used relatively frequently, the first developing device 13 has color toner which is used relatively infrequently and is capable of forming images in various colors. When you want to use a color, you can use it by attaching a cartridge corresponding to that color to the main cartridge 10a.

The attachment/detachment mechanism of the first developing device 13 to the main cartridge 10a will be described with reference to FIG.
132. (Only one side is shown in FIG. 2, and hereinafter only the side will be explained, and the explanation of the other sides will be omitted as they are the same.), the pivot pin 13
1 or main cartridge loa cartridge container 1
The first
The developing device 13 is rotatably supported by the cartridge container 17, and when the rotation pin 132 is pressed against the recess 172 of the cartridge container 17 via a pressure lever 133, the first developing device 13 is moved to the cartridge container 17. ．． That is, it is positioned and fixed to the main cartridge 10a.

The pressure lever 133 has one end pivotally supported by the cartridge container 17 via a support pin 134, the other end engaged with the pressure contact pin 132 of the first developing device 13, and one end fixed to the cartridge container 17. It is elastically biased counterclockwise about the support pin 134 by a pressure spring 135. Therefore, the first developing device 13 is connected to the main cartridge 10.
To remove it from a, move the pressure lever 133 to the second position in FIG.
Rotate it clockwise as shown by the chain line in the figure, and
After releasing the engagement of the pressure lever 133 with the pressing bin 132 of the developing unit 13, the second developing unit 13 is rotated slightly counterclockwise in the figure around the rotating bin 131, and the support 17111 is rotated.
The first developing device 13 can be pulled out from the cartridge container 17 along the line 71. In addition, the first developing device 13 can be attached to the main cartridge 10a by following the procedure completely opposite to the above.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the leaning device 16 is detachably installed in a cartridge container 17, and includes a waste toner container 161 made of transparent resin such as PET, and a cartridge container above the waste toner container 161. 17 partitions 17
The cleaning link plate 163 is attached to the tip of the photosensitive drum 11 and scrapes off residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 by coming into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. On the sliding surface of the waste toner container 161 at the bottom of the cartridge container 17,
A leaf spring 162 in which an upwardly chevron-shaped convex portion 162a is formed.
One end of the waste toner container 161 is fixed, and a recess 161a is formed on the lower surface of the waste toner container 161 so as to face the protrusion 162a of the leaf spring 162. It is pressed against the partition portion 173 of No. 17 and is positioned and fixed.

In addition, 32 in FIG. 3 is a lamp as a light emitting element;
Reference numeral 3 denotes an odometer sensor (detecting light from the lamp 32), and the photosensor 33 and the lamp 32 detect whether the waste toner container 161 is full. That is, when the waste toner container 161 is not sufficiently filled with waste toner, the light emitted by the lamp 32 is transmitted through the hole 17 of the cartridge container 17 of the process cartridge IO shown in FIG.
Since the waste toner container 161 is made of a transparent body, the light from the lamp 32 passes through the waste toner container 161 and reaches the photo sensor 33, and the light from the lamp 32 passes through the waste toner container 161 and reaches the photo sensor 33. The output of the sensor 33 becomes high level.

On the other hand, when the waste toner container 161 is filled with waste toner and more waste toner is collected than the optical path from the lamp 32, the light from the lamp 32 is emitted by the waste toner in the waste toner container 161, and the photo sensor 33 The output becomes 0 level, and it is detected that the waste toner container 161 is full.

The output of the photosensor 33 is taken into a control circuit within the main body of the apparatus, and an alarm lamp (not shown) indicating that the waste toner container 161 is full is used to alert the operator to the waste toner container 161. It is designed to encourage exchange.

Therefore, the cleaning rate 1 of the cleaning device 16
The waste toner scraped off from around the photosensitive drum 11 by 63 is collected in a waste toner container 161 having an opening toward the photosensitive drum 11, and the waste toner container 161 is filled with waste toner. When the waste toner container 161 is collected, a warning lamp lights up via the lamp 32 and photo sensor 33 to notify the operator that the waste toner container 161 needs to be replaced.

Therefore, the operator opens the front door 1a of the apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. 4, pulls out the waste toner container 161 from the cartridge container 17 of the process cartridge 10 as shown in FIG. 161 recess 16
1a and the convex portion 1 of the leaf spring 162 on the side of the cartridge container 17
62a is disengaged, and the cartridge container 161 can be easily taken out from the process cartridge IO.

Add a new empty waste toner container 1 to the process cartridge IO
61, simply slide the waste toner container 161 into the cartridge container 17 and push it in. As the waste toner container 161 slides, the leaf spring 162, which had been pressed downward, releases its convex portion. 182a is the waste toner container 161
When the waste toner container 161 is engaged with the recess 161a of the
can be positioned and fixed within the cartridge container 17. Note that the operator can feel the click when the convex portion 162a of the leaf spring 162 engages with the concave portion 161a of the waste toner container 161, and the toner container 161 is moved into the cartridge container 1.
It is possible to know that the position has been fixed within 7.

As described above, the waste toner container 161 of the cleaning device 16
Since the first developing device 13, which is a sub-cartridge lob, is removably installed in the process cartridge 10,
In an extreme case, even if all printed characters are developed with color toner, the waste toner around the photosensitive drum 11 generated by the generated color toner will be transferred to the waste toner container 16.
By replacing 1, you can use this waste toner container 1 as much as possible.
61, the life of the main cartridge 10a is determined by the capacity of the waste toner container 161.
It is possible to prevent the waste of replacing the main cartridge 10a even though black toner remains inside. Furthermore, once the waste toner container 161 is full, it can be replaced with a new empty container, so its capacity only needs to be the minimum required. Miniaturization can be achieved.

Further, in the above description, the waste toner container 161 is made of a transparent material, but the material is not limited to such a material. For example, as shown in FIG. In this case, the waste toner container 161 may be enclosed in a bag 164 made of vinyl or the like.
It is only necessary to form holes 161b and 16)c for the optical path from the lamp 32 in the lamp 32, and it is possible to perform the same function as the above-mentioned one made of resin such as PET, and to reduce the cost compared to the one made of resin. be able to.

Furthermore, in the above description, the sub-cartridge lOb is supported by the main cartridge 10a, but the structure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The sub-cartridge 10b may be elastically biased toward the main cartridge lOa installed in the apparatus main body l by a pressurizing lever 35 that is rotatably supported and pivotally supported on the apparatus main body l side. Cartridge log! Even if the sub-cartridge 10a is removed from the main cartridge 1, it remains in the main cartridge 1, so when the main cartridge 10a reaches the end of its lifespan and is replaced with a new one, the sub-cartridge 10a that has reached the end of its lifespan can be replaced with the new main cartridge 10a. There is no need to replace the attachment, and the operability of replacement is improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of a laser beam printer having a process cartridge according to the present invention, and devices having the same functions as the equipment according to the first embodiment are numbered the same as those in the first embodiment. , and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The process cartridge 10 according to this embodiment differs from that according to the first embodiment in that two sub-cartridges are attached to the main cartridge 10a. That is,
A second recharging device 36 and a third developing device 37 as the second sub-cartridge 10c are detachably attached between the first developing device 13 and the recharging device 14 in the main cartridge IOa. A third scanner unit 38 for exposing the photosensitive tram 11 with a third write signal L3 via a laser beam is disposed in the apparatus main body 2 on the left side of the process cartridge IO in the figure.

Since the third developing device 37 stores toner of a different color from the first developing device 13, the process cartridge 10 is used to develop three colors on the photosensitive drum 11 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. An image can now be formed.

If the number of color toner developing devices, that is, sub-cartridges is increased as in this embodiment, the sub-cartridges 10b and l
The 1st which is Oc. The frequency of use of the third developing device 13.37 is
Although it is increasingly difficult to speculate, it is believed that - the amount of waste toner due to color toner will increase as the interior of the shell increases. Therefore, if the waste toner 161 of the cleaning device 16 is made detachable and replaceable with respect to the main cartridge lOa of the process cartridge 10 as in the first embodiment, the frequency of use of the first and third developing devices 13°37 will be increased. Even if black toner remains in the second developing device 15, the life of the main cartridge 10a will not end due to waste toner. The process cartridge 10 according to the invention exhibits its effects.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the waste developer collection case of the cleaning means is detachably attached to the main cartridge, and the waste developer can be sufficiently collected from the process cartridge. As a result, the sub-cartridge, which is the second developing means, is frequently used, and even if sufficient developer remains in the first developing means, the main cartridge may reach the end of its life due to waste developer. In addition, it is possible to prevent the problem of having to enlarge the waste developer collection case for collecting waste developer, thereby increasing the size of the process cartridge and the main body of the apparatus.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment, Figure 2 is a diagram showing how the sub-cartridge is attached to the main cartridge of the process cartridge, and Figure 3 is the same process cartridge. 1 is a side sectional view of a laser beam printer having a Fig. 4 is a diagram of the laser beam printer shown in Fig. 3 with the front door open; Fig. 5 is a diagram of a modified example of the waste toner container of the same process cartridge; Fig. 6 is a diagram of a method of supporting the sub-cartridge. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a laser beam printer having the process cartridge according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the process cartridge according to the prior art. 1.2...Device main body, lO...process cartridge, 10a...main cartridge, lOb. 10c...Subcartridge, 11...Photosensitive drum (image bearing member), 12-...Charger (!image forming means>), 1
3.37...first and third developing devices (second developing means),
14.36...1st. Second recharging device (WI image forming stage), 15... Second developing device (first developing means), 16...
・Cleaning device (cleaning means), 161...
Waste toner container (waste developer collection case). Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an image carrier and a latent image forming section disposed around the image carrier;
a main cartridge that has a first developing means and a cleaning means and is detachable integrally with the main body of the image forming apparatus;
A process cartridge having a second developing means and one or more sub-cartridges that are removable from the main cartridge, wherein a waste developer collection case of the cleaning means is removable from the main cartridge. A process cartridge characterized by being freely installed.