JPH06130740A - Process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the recycling of a frame body by separably coupling plural frame bodies housing an image carrier and a process mean so that a process cartridge may be constituted. CONSTITUTION:The process cartridge B is constituted of three frame bodies such as a toner frame body 12a, a developing frame body 12b, and a cleaning frame body 12c. In the case of assembling both frame bodies 12a and 12b, a seal 12a2 is stuck to the aperture 12a1 of the toner frame body 12a and seals the aperture 12a1, and then the locking calyx 12a3 of the toner frame body 12a is inserted from an aperture part in the longitudinal direction of a locking recessed part 12b1 so as to couple both frame bodies 12a and 12b. A developing sleeve 10d is incorporated in the developing frame body 12b and toner is put in the toner frame body 12a from a toner insertion port, thereby using the cartridge. When an already used cartridge is recovered and disassembled, both frame bodies 12a and 12b are easily separated just by allowing the toner frame body 12a to slide along the recessed part 12b1 of the developing frame body 12b in the longitudinal direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge for forming an image and an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge can be loaded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged image carrier to light.
The latent image is visualized with toner, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to perform image recording. In such an apparatus, the toner must be replenished each time it is used up, but this toner replenishment work is not only troublesome, but it may be contaminated. In addition, maintenance of each member can be performed only by a specialized service person, which often causes inconvenience to the user.

Therefore, the image carrier, the charging device, the developing device,
By integrating the cleaning unit and the like into an integrated structure into a cartridge, the user can replenish toner and replace parts of the image carrier that have reached the end of life by loading the cartridge into the main body of the apparatus, facilitating maintenance. Things have been put to practical use.

Such a cartridge has been discarded as it is when the stored toner is used up. Therefore, reusable parts, such as various rollers, are also discarded together. However, with the recent increase in global environmental protection, with the aim of saving resources, saving energy, and reducing waste,
Various electric and electronic devices are starting to be recycled and reused (recycled) instead of discarding products as in the past.

For example, in the process cartridge, the parts such as the charging member, the developing member, and the cleaning member have a long product life and can be used even after the toner in the cartridge is used. Therefore, recently, the cartridge after the toner is used is collected, and the parts and the like are taken out and recycled.

[0006]

However, when recycling the frame that constitutes the housing of the cartridge, various components attached to the frame, such as the developing member, must be removed. In addition, it is necessary to remove urethane foam, felt, etc. to prevent toner leakage. However, for example, the developer frame containing the developer and the developing frame having the developing member connected thereto are permanently bonded by means of ultrasonic welding or the like. A seal is attached to the opening of the developer frame for feeding the developer to the developer frame to prevent toner leakage and toner wetness, and the user pulls out the seal at the start of use to remove the developer from the developer frame. Toner is supplied to the developing frame.

Therefore, after the seal is pulled out, it is difficult to reattach the seal to the opening of the developer frame to which the developing frame is permanently bonded, and the developer frame and the developing frame are recycled. Took a lot of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the conventional problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which the frame can be easily recycled.

[0009]

A typical means for achieving the above object according to the present invention is an image carrier, at least one process means acting on the image carrier, the image carrier and A plurality of frames for accommodating the process means are provided, and the process cartridge is configured by connecting the above-mentioned part or all of the frame bodies with a connecting means that can be separated from each other.

[0010]

In the above structure, the frames can be separated from each other by releasing the connection by the connecting means. Therefore, the frame can be easily recycled.

[0011]

【Example】

First Embodiment Next, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall schematic structure of the image forming apparatus loaded with the process cartridge will be described. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a laser printer which is one mode of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional structural explanatory view of a process cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A has
A light image based on image information is emitted from the optical system 1 to form a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) image on the photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier. The recording medium 2 is synchronized with the formation of the toner image.
Of the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum in the image forming portion formed into a cartridge as the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by the transfer unit 4, and the recording medium 2 is fixed by the fixing unit 5. Then, the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to the discharge unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charging means 8. The image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 via the exposure unit 9.
Is exposed to form a latent image, and the developing means 10 forms a toner image corresponding to the latent image to form a visible image. After the transfer means 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording medium 2, the cleaning means 11 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7. Each component such as the photosensitive drum 7 is housed in a frame 12 that constitutes a housing to form a cartridge.

Next, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A and the process cartridge B will be described.

[Image Forming Apparatus] First, the image forming apparatus A
Concerning the configuration of each part of the,
The fixing unit and the cartridge loading unit will be described in this order.

(Optical System) The optical system 1 irradiates a light image on the photoconductor drum 7 by irradiating light based on image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode 1b, a polygon mirror 1c, a scanner motor 1d, an imaging lens 1e, and a reflection mirror 1f are housed in the optical unit 1a of FIG.

When an image signal is given from an external device such as a computer or a word processor, the laser diode 1b emits light according to the image signal and illuminates the polygon mirror 1c as image light. The polygon mirror 1c is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor 1d, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1c is radiated to the rotating photosensitive drum 7 via the imaging lens 1e and the reflection mirror 1f, and the surface of the drum 7 is covered. It is selectively exposed to form a latent image according to image information.

(Recording Medium Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording medium 2 (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth or thin plate) will be explained. Two types are available: manual feeding of 2 and cassette feeding. As shown in FIG. 1, when a single or a plurality of recording media 2 are set in the feeding tray 3a and image formation is started, the configuration for manual feeding is as follows.
The recording medium 2 on the feeding tray 3a is fed into the apparatus by the pickup roller 3b, and when a plurality of recording mediums 2 are set, they are separated and fed one by one by the separating rollers 3c1 and 3c2, respectively. The sheet is conveyed so that its front end abuts on the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2. The pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2 are driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation to convey the recording medium 2 to the image forming section. Further, the recording medium 2 on which the image has been formed is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and is ejected to the ejection portion 6 by the intermediate ejection roller 3e and the ejection roller pair 3f1 and 3f2. A guide member 3g for guiding the conveyance of the recording medium 2 is provided between the rollers. Further, the feeding tray 3a is used when the apparatus main body 13 is not used.
Constitutes the exterior of.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the structure for feeding the cassette has a loading section for the cassette 3h at the inner bottom of the apparatus main body 13, and when the recording medium 2 is not manually fed, it is loaded in the loading section. The recording medium 2 in the cassette 3h is fed one by one from the top to the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2 by the pickup roller 3i and the feeding roller 3j. Then, after the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2, the same members as in the case of the above-described manual feeding are conveyed. 3k is a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium 2 in the cassette 3h.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 4 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming section onto the recording medium 2. The transfer means 4 of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. , The transfer roller 4. That is, the recording medium 2 is pressed by the transfer roller 4 against the photosensitive drum 7 of the loaded process cartridge B, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the transfer roller 4. The toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2.

(Fixing Means) Fixing Means 5 The Transfer Roller 4
The toner image transferred to the recording medium 2 is fixed by the voltage application. As shown in FIG. 1, the structure is composed of a driving roller 5a that is driven to rotate, and a fixing roller 5c that has a heater 5b inside and is driven to rotate by being pressed against the driving roller 5a. That is, when the recording medium 2 to which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming section passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5c, pressure is applied by the pressing of both rollers 5a and 5c, and heat generation of the fixing roller 5c occurs. Heat is applied by the toner, and the toner on the recording medium 2 is fixed on the recording medium 2.

(Process Cartridge Loading Unit) Inside the image forming apparatus A, there is provided a cartridge loading unit for loading the process cartridge B. The process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus body 13 by opening the opening / closing cover 14. That is, an opening / closing cover 14 which can be opened and closed by a hinge 14a is attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 13. When the opening / closing cover 14 is opened, the device body
A cartridge loading space is provided inside 13, and left and right guide members (not shown) are attached to the left and right wall surfaces inside the main body. The left and right guide members are provided with a guide for inserting the process cartridge B. The process cartridge B is inserted along the guide, and the opening / closing cover 14
The process cartridge B is loaded in the image forming apparatus A by closing.

{Process Cartridge} Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B loaded in the image forming apparatus A will be described.

The process cartridge B is provided with an image carrier and at least one process means. Here, the process means includes, for example, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. As shown in FIG. 2, in the process cartridge B of this embodiment, a charging unit 8, an exposing unit 9, a developing unit 10, and a cleaning unit 11 are arranged around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 which is an image carrier, and a frame member is provided. It is housed in a housing consisting of 12 and integrated, and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body 13. The frame body 12 is configured by combining a plurality of frame bodies.

Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B will be described with reference to the photosensitive drum 7, the charging means 8, the exposing part 9, and the developing means.
10, the cleaning means 11, and the frame 12 will be described in this order.

(Photosensitive Drum) The photosensitive drum 7 according to this embodiment is constructed by coating an organic photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical drum base made of aluminum. This photosensitive drum 7 is rotatably attached to the frame 12, and by transmitting the driving force of a drive motor provided on the apparatus main body side to a gear (not shown) fixed to one end of the drum 7 in the longitudinal direction, The photosensitive drum 7 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 according to the image forming operation.

(Charging means) The charging means is for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and in this embodiment, the charging roller 8 is rotatably attached to the frame 12.
The so-called contact charging method is used. The charging roller 8 has a metal roller shaft 8a provided with a conductive elastic layer, a high resistance elastic layer further provided thereon, and a protective film provided on the surface thereof. The conductive elastic layer is formed by dispersing carbon in an elastic rubber layer such as EPDM or NBR and has a function of guiding a bias voltage supplied to the roller shaft 8a. The elastic layer having a high resistance is made of urethane rubber or the like and contains a minute amount of conductive fine powder, and even when a charging roller having a high conductivity such as a pinhole of the photoconductor drum 7 faces each other, The leak current to the photosensitive drum 7 is limited to prevent the bias voltage from rapidly dropping. The protective layer is N-
It is made of methylmethoxylated nylon, and acts so that the plastic material of the conductive elastic layer or the elastic layer of high resistance does not touch the photoconductor drum 7 and deteriorate the surface of the photoconductor drum 7.

The charging roller 8 is connected to the photosensitive drum 7
When the image is formed, the charging roller 8 rotates following the rotation of the photoconductor drum 7. At this time, the DC voltage and the AC voltage are superimposed and applied to the charging roller 8 to apply the DC voltage to the photoconductor drum 7. Charge the surface uniformly.

(Exposure Unit) The exposure unit 9 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 uniformly charged by the charging roller 8 with the optical image emitted from the optical system 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum 7. And the cartridge frame 12
An exposure section is formed by providing an opening 9 for guiding the optical image on the upper surface of the exposure section.

(Developing Means) The developing means 10 has a toner reservoir 10a for accommodating toner (developer), as shown in FIG. 2, and rotates in the direction of the arrow for feeding the toner into the toner reservoir 10a. A toner feeding member 10b is provided.
Further, a developing sleeve 10d having a magnet 10c therein and forming a thin toner layer on the surface by rotating is provided with a minute gap from the photosensitive drum 7.

When a toner layer is formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 10d, friction between the toner and the developing sleeve 10d provides sufficient triboelectric charge to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7. A developing blade 10e is provided to regulate the layer thickness of the toner.

(Cleaning Means) Cleaning Means 11
As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the cleaning blade 11a contacts the surface of the photoconductor drum 7 to scrape off the toner remaining on the drum 7 and the cleaning blade 11a for scooping off the scraped toner. Located below 11a,
And a squishy sheet that is in weak contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.
11b and a waste toner reservoir 11c for storing the scraped waste toner.

(Frame) Next, the frame 12 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the frame body 12 according to the present embodiment is a toner frame body.
12a, developing frame body 12b, and cleaning frame body 12c
It is configured by connecting frame bodies.

A toner reservoir 10a of the developing means 10 and a toner feeding member 10b are provided in the toner frame 12a, and the opening 12
A seal 12a2 is attached to a1 for preventing the toner contained in the toner reservoir 10a from leaking and getting wet. The seal 12a2 is pulled out at the start of use of the cartridge to supply the toner in the toner reservoir 10a to the developing frame 12b. The developing frame 12b is a developing sleeve 10 having a built-in magnet 10c.
d and the developing blade 10e are attached.

A cleaning blade 11a and a squeeze sheet 11b are attached to the end of the cleaning frame 12c to form a waste toner reservoir 11c as a whole.

In the process cartridge of this embodiment, the toner frame body 12a, the developing frame body 12b and the cleaning frame body 12c are covered with a cartridge cover 12d on the upper part thereof to be integrated as a whole.

(Coupling Means for Frame) The toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are separably coupled by a coupling means. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, one developing frame 12b
At both ends of the joint, a recessed groove-shaped locking recess 12b1 is formed in the longitudinal direction (the front and back direction of the paper surface of FIG. 2). On the other hand, toner frame
A brim-shaped locking collar 12a3 that can be fitted into the locking recess 12b1 is formed at the joint end of 12a in the longitudinal direction.

Therefore, when assembling the two frames 12a and 12b, a seal 12a2 is attached to the opening 12a1 of the toner frame 12a, the opening 12a1 is closed, and then the toner frame is opened from the longitudinal opening of the locking recess 12b1. The locking brim 12a3 of the body 12a is inserted so as to be inserted, and both the frame bodies 12a and 12b are brought into a coupled state. Then, the developing sleeve 12d and the like are incorporated into the developing frame body 12b, and the toner frame body
Toner 12a is filled with toner from a toner insertion opening (not shown) and sealed. When the user uses the sticker 12,
Use by pulling the end of a2 and pulling out the seal 12a2.

Next, the used cartridges are collected and collected at the production site, and the cartridges are disassembled in the recycling process. At this time, the toner frame 12a can be easily separated by sliding the toner frame 12a in the longitudinal direction along the locking recess 12b1 of the developing frame 12b. Therefore, the development frame
After disassembling each member such as the developing sleeve 12d from 12b and separating the both frame bodies 12, the inside of the frame body is cleaned by means such as air suction, and a new seal 12a2 is provided at the toner frame body opening 12a1.
By attaching the, the frame bodies 12a and 12b can be reused.

The cleaning frame 12c is used for collecting waste toner.
It is possible to discard the waste toner in 11c, clean the inside of the toner reservoir 11, replace the cleaning blade 11a and the squeeze sheet 11b, and reuse.

{Process Cartridge Recycling Procedure} Here, the process cartridge recycling procedure will be described.

The general procedure for recycling the process cartridge is as follows: (1) recovery, (2) sorting, (3) disassembly,
(4) Selection, (5) Cleaning, (6) Inspection, (7) Reassembly. This will be specifically described as follows.

(1) Collection Collect used process cartridges at a collection center with the cooperation of users and service personnel.

(2) Sorting Used process cartridges collected at collection centers in various places are transported to a cartridge recycling factory. Then, the collected used process cartridges are sorted by model.

(3) Disassembly The sorted process cartridges are disassembled and the parts are taken out.

(4) Sorting The taken out components are inspected to sort out reusable components and those that have reached the end of their life or are damaged and are not suitable for reuse.

(5) Cleaning Only the parts that pass the selection are cleaned so that they can be reused as parts of a new cartridge.

(6) Inspection It is inspected whether the parts that have passed the selection and have been cleaned have their functions sufficiently restored and can be reused.

(7) Reassembly A new process cartridge is assembled using the parts that have passed the inspection.

In this embodiment, since the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are separably coupled, it is possible to easily perform (3) disassembly and (7) reassembly in the recycling procedure. Can be done.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-described first embodiment, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are locked by the locking flange 12a3 and the locking recess.
Although the example in which 12b1 is coupled by locking is shown, it is also possible to couple both frame bodies 12a and 12b as shown in FIG.

That is, the engaging claws 12a4 are provided at both ends of the toner frame 12a, and the engaging claws are provided at both ends of the developing frame 12b.
A protrusion 12b2 for locking the 12a4 is provided. In this case, the toner frame 12a is made of synthetic resin, and the elastic deformation of the resin is used to elastically deform the locking claw 12a4 and hook it on the protrusion 12b2 to fix it. When the two frames 12a and 12b are to be separated from each other, the locking claws 12a4 can be widened to release the locked state so that they can be easily separated from each other.

[Third Embodiment] Further, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b may be coupled by screws 15 as shown in FIG. In this case, the two frames 12a and 12b can be easily separated by removing the screw 15, and the two frames 12a and 12b can be screwed again.
Can be assembled.

[Fourth Embodiment] In each of the above-described embodiments, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are joined by locking or screwing, but next, they are joined by the double-sided adhesive tape. Here is an example:

Toner frame 12 of the cartridge of this embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a and the developing device frame 12b are joined by a double-sided adhesive tape 17 via a toner leakage prevention seal 16 made of urethane foam or felt. That is, a double-sided adhesive tape 17 is adhered around the opening edge of the toner frame 12a, a toner leakage prevention seal 16 is adhered by this tape 17, and further the double-sided adhesive tape 17 is adhered on the seal 16 for development. The frame 12b is connected.

Furthermore, since the double-sided adhesive tape 17 alone has a weak binding force, the engaging holes 18 are formed on the four sides of the opening edge of the toner frame 12a.
And a projecting piece 19 which can be fitted into the engaging hole 18 is provided on the developing device frame 12b. The projecting piece 19 is provided with a hole 19a for press-fitting the pin 20. Therefore, when the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are joined with the double-sided adhesive tape 17, the projecting piece 19 is fitted into the engaging hole 18 and the pin 20 is fitted into the hole 19.
It is press-fitted into a to firmly connect the two frame bodies 12a and 12b.

To separate the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b, the pin 20 is removed and the double-sided adhesive tape 17 is used.
Is peeled off from the respective frame bodies 12a and 12b. The adhesive force of this double-sided adhesive tape 17 is the frame body 12a, 12b.
It must be strong to bond the tape, but if the adhesive strength is strong, it is difficult to peel off the double-sided adhesive tape 17 at the time of recycling, and even if it is forcibly peeled off, the tape support or adhesive May remain on the surfaces of the frames 12a and 12b. In order to remove the remaining adhesive and the like, it must be washed with an organic solvent. However, because of this, the number of cleaning work steps increases, and the organic solvent used for this cleaning has a risk of melting, cracking, whitening, etc. of the mounting part when the mounting part is a constituent resin or a metal whose surface is coated. ing.
Therefore, in order to peel off the double-sided adhesive tape 17 and separate and recycle the frames 12a and 12b, it is desirable that the adhesive force is weak when the tape is peeled off.

Therefore, in the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 17 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers provided on both sides of the tape support contain a foaming agent which foams by heating. With this configuration, when the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is peeled off, the foaming agent contained in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is thermally decomposed to generate gas when heated. As a result, unevenness due to bubbles is generated at the interface between the frame bodies 12a and 12b and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and as a result, the bonding area is reduced and the adhesive strength is reduced, and the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 17 is easily peeled off.

Therefore, the frames 12a and 12b can be easily separated, and the tape support and the adhesive layer do not remain on the frames 12a and 12b.

As a material for the support of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 17 used in this embodiment, various thin plate-like materials such as paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, synthetic resin film, rubber sheet and metal foil can be used.

As the material for the adhesive layer, an adhesive synthetic resin or synthetic rubber such as polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl ethylene ether, polyvinyl isobutyl ether, polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, SBR, chlorinated rubber, cyclized Rubber, vinyl chloride-
Use one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds from vinyl acetate copolymer, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid ester, polyacrylic acid ester, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral and the like. Can be done. Further, as a tackifier, rosin, rosin derivative, petroleum resin or the like can be added and used.

The foaming agent contained in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is required to have the property of decomposing and foaming by heating and the property of not foaming at room temperature for a long time. As the type of foaming agent, an inorganic foaming agent, an organic foaming agent, a polymer foaming agent, or the like can be used. As the inorganic foaming agent, powders of sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and the like can be used. As the organic foaming agent, powders of azobisbutyronitrile, toluenesulfonyl hydrazide, toluenesulfonyl hydrazide derivative, benzenesulfonyl hydrazide and the like can be used. Further, as the polymer foaming agent, powders or beads such as polyethylene foaming agent, polypropylene foaming agent, vinyl chloride foaming agent, vinylidene chloride foaming agent, and acrylic foaming agent can be used.

These foaming agents can be used alone or in admixture of two or more. It is also possible to coat the surface of the foaming agent with various synthetic resins to form microcapsules for use. Further, a foaming aid such as a urea compound or salicylic acid can be added for the purpose of adjusting the decomposition and foaming temperature.

The selection of the foaming agent must be made in consideration of the heat resistant temperatures of the frames 12a and 12b joined by the double-sided adhesive tape 17 and the split foaming temperature of the foaming agent. For example, for the synthetic resin frames 12a and 12b having a heat distortion temperature of 100 ° C. or less, it is necessary to use a foaming agent having a decomposition foaming temperature of 100 ° C. or less.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment described above, the case where the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are joined by the double-sided adhesive tape 17 containing the heat-foaming agent in the adhesive layer has been described. You may make it join other members using the double-sided adhesive tape 17. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a developing sleeve 10d, a developing blade 10e, and the like are attached to the developing frame body 12b.
In order to prevent toner from leaking from both ends of 10d in the longitudinal direction and the back of the developing blade 10e, a toner leak prevention seal 2
1 and 22 are provided. A toner receiving film 23 is attached to the lower portion of the developing frame 12b to receive the toner spilled from the developing frame 12b.

The toner leakage prevention seals 21 and 22 and the toner receiving film 23 may be attached by the double-sided adhesive tape 17 used in the fourth embodiment. With this arrangement, when the used cartridge is collected and recycled, the toner leakage prevention seals 21 and 22 and the toner receiving film 23 can be easily peeled off in the same manner as described in the fourth embodiment. Work becomes easy.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the plurality of frame members are composed of three frame members, that is, a toner frame member, a developing frame member, and a cleaning frame member, is shown. There is no need to limit to the case of configuring with. Therefore, it is not necessary to limit the mutual connection of the frame members to the above-described case of connecting the toner frame member and the developing frame member.

Further, the process cartridge B according to the present invention
Not only when forming a single color image as described above,
The present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge in which a plurality of developing means 10 are provided and an image of a plurality of colors (for example, a two-color image, a three-color image or a full color) is formed.

As the developing method, various known developing methods such as a two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touchdown developing method and a cloud developing method can be used.

As for the constitution of the charging means, the so-called contact charging method was used in the above-mentioned first embodiment, but a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around the three sides of the tungsten wire which has been conventionally used as another constitution. It goes without saying that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum to uniformly charge the surface of the drum. In addition to the roller type, the charging unit may be of blade type (charging blade), pad type, block type, rod type, wire type, or the like.

Further, as a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like.

The process cartridge described above is
For example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier and at least one process means are provided. Therefore, as the mode of the process cartridge, in addition to the embodiment described above, for example, the image carrier and the charging means are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The image carrier and the developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. The image carrier and the cleaning means are integrally made into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is one in which an image carrier and two or more of the above-mentioned process means are combined into an integrated cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

That is, the above-mentioned process cartridge is one in which the charging means, the developing means or the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. . Further, at least one of the charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body.

Although a laser beam printer is illustrated as an image forming apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, etc. It is also possible to use for.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, among a plurality of frame bodies constituting a process cartridge, a part or all of the frame bodies are joined together by a detachable joining means. The frame bodies can be easily separated from each other by releasing the coupling by, and the work of recycling the process cartridge can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention is loaded.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a process cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a toner frame and a developing frame are coupled by a locking claw.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a toner frame body and a developing frame body are coupled by screws.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a toner frame body and a developing frame body are joined by a double-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a toner leakage prevention seal is attached to the opening end surface of the toner frame with a double-sided tape.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a toner leakage prevention seal, a sheet, and the like are joined with a double-sided tape.

FIG. 8 is a perspective explanatory view of a developing device frame to which a toner leakage prevention seal is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Image forming apparatus, B ... Process cartridge, 1 ... Optical system, 1a ... Optical unit, 1b ... Laser diode, 1c ... Polygon mirror, 1d ... Scanner motor,
1e ... Image forming lens, 1f ... Reflecting mirror, 2 ... Recording medium,
3 ... Conveying means, 3a ... Feed tray, 3b ... Pickup roller, 3c1, 3c2 ... Separation roller, 3d1, 3d2 ... Registration roller, 3e ... Intermediate discharge roller, 3f1, 3f2 ... Discharge roller, 3g ... Guide member, 3h ... Cassette, 3i ... Pickup roller, 3j ... Feed roller, 3k ... Sensor, 4
... Transfer roller, 5 ... Fixing means, 5a ... Drive roller, 5b
... Heater, 5c ... Fixing roller, 6 ... Ejecting section, 7 ... Photosensitive drum, 8 ... Charging roller, 8a ... Roller shaft, 9 ... Exposure section, 10 ... Developing means, 10a ... Toner reservoir, 10b ... Toner feeding member, 10c ... Magnet, 10d ... Developing sleeve, 10e ... Developing blade, 11 ... Cleaning means, 11a ... Cleaning blade, 11b ... Squeeze sheet, 11c ... Waste toner reservoir,
12 ... Frame body, 12a ... Toner frame body, 12a1 ... Opening, 12a2 ... Seal, 12a3 ... Locking collar, 12a4 ... Locking claw, 12b ... Development frame body, 12
b1 ... locking recess, 12b2 ... protrusion, 12c ... cleaning frame,
12d ... Cartridge cover, 13 ... Device body, 14 ... Open / close cover, 14a ... Hinge, 15 ... Screw, 16 ... Toner leak prevention seal, 17 ... Double-sided adhesive tape, 18 ... Engagement hole, 19 ... Projection piece, 19
a ... hole, 20 ... pin, 21, 22 ... toner leak prevention seal, 23
... Toner receiving film

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier, at least one process unit acting on the image carrier, and a plurality of frame bodies accommodating the image carrier and the process unit. And a process cartridge characterized in that a part or all of the frame bodies are coupled to each other by a coupling means capable of being separated from each other. 2. The process cartridge has a developer frame for accommodating a developer of a developing means as a process means, and a developing frame for accommodating a developing member. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing cartridge and the developing frame are joined together by a separable joining means. 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means engages the frame bodies with each other. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the joining means joins the developer frame and the developing frame with a double-sided adhesive tape containing a foaming agent in an adhesive layer. 5. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit as the process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image carrier are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is formed into an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is removable. 6. The process cartridge is an image forming apparatus in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image carrier are integrally formed into a cartridge. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is removable from the main body. 7. The process cartridge is configured such that at least a developing unit as the process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image carrier are integrally made into a cartridge so as to be attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1, which is a product. 8. An image forming apparatus capable of mounting a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: an image carrier, at least one process unit acting on the image carrier, and the image carrier. And a plurality of frame bodies for accommodating the process means, and a loading means for loading a process cartridge which is coupled using a coupling means capable of separating the part or all of the frame bodies, and a recording medium is conveyed. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.