JPH07152306A - Process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a gap from being left at the connection part of frame bodies by positioning and connecting a part of a 1st frame body and a part of a 2nd frame body through a cover member for covering a developer filling port of the 1st frame body in a shape like a locking bar. CONSTITUTION:A projecting part 12b1 projecting to a toner frame body 12a is installed on one end side of the short connection part of the developing frame body 12b, and a positioning hole 12b2 is drilled in the projecting part 12b1. The positioning hole 12b2 is set so that it may be coaxial to the toner filling port 12a of the toner frame body 12 when the developing frame body 12b is connected to the toner frame body 12a. By positioning and connecting the positioning hole 12b2 of the developing frame body 12b to the toner filling port 12a2 of the toner frame body 12a by the use of a cap 18 for covering the toner filling port 12a2 in the shape like the locking bar, the positioning and connection of the short connection part 12d of both frame bodies 12a and 12b are surely secured. Thus, the gap is prevented from being left at the connection part between both frame bodies 12a and 12b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus. Here, as the image forming apparatus, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer,
An LED printer, a facsimile, or the like is included.

[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 photosensitive drum (image carrier) to form a latent image, and the latent image is visualized with toner. At the same time, the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to record an image.
In such an apparatus, the toner must be replenished every time the toner runs out, but this toner replenishment work is not only troublesome, but it may be contaminated. Further, maintenance of each member can be performed only by a specialized service person, and this is often inconvenient for the user.

Therefore, the photosensitive drum, the charging device, the developing device, the cleaning device, and the like are integrally formed into a cartridge so that a user mounts the cartridge in the main body of the apparatus to extend the toner supply and reach the life. It has been put into practical use that parts such as the photoconductor drum can be replaced and the maintenance is easy.

The housing of the cartridge is constructed by combining a plurality of frame members such as a toner frame member for containing toner, a developing frame member for supporting a developing sleeve, a cleaning frame member for supporting a cleaning blade and the like. . The connection between the toner frame and the developing frame is usually welded at the long connecting portion, and at the short connecting portion, it is attached to the opening of the toner frame at the start of use of the cartridge. It is not welded because the cover film must be pulled and pulled out. However, a seal for preventing toner leakage is attached to the short-side joint between the toner frame and the developing frame to prevent the toner from leaking from the joint. Then, the toner developing frame and the cleaning frame, which are combined as described above, are combined by a connecting member to form a cartridge.

The frame supporting the components such as the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve is formed by injection molding a material such as polyphenylene ether (PPE) or polyphenylene oxide (PPO) having good mechanical properties such as bending strength. I am configuring. On the other hand, since the toner frame for storing the toner does not need to support the parts such as the photosensitive drum, the polystyrene frame (PS) is inexpensive although the mechanical properties such as bending strength are somewhat poor. .

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems.

Since the short-side connecting portions of the toner frame and the developing frame are not welded, and the two frames have different mechanical characteristics such as bending strength, the short frame is caused by an impact when the cartridge is attached or detached. There is a possibility that a slight gap may occur at the center of the hand-coupling portion, and the toner, which is fine particles, may leak from this gap.

In recent years, it has been desired to collect and recycle used cartridges from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment. However, since the toner frame body and the developing frame body are weld-bonded to each other in the cartridge, it is necessary to recycle them. Both frames had to be crashed and reused as materials. Further, when the both frame bodies are crashed with waste toner adhering during the above recycling, different materials are mixed with each other, and the frame body remolded using this material has mechanical properties such as bending strength described above. Will decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to completely remove the waste toner from the frame at the time of recycling, and there is a problem that cleaning work is difficult.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a gap from being formed in the joint portion of the cartridge frame body and prevent toner leakage. It is also intended to improve the recyclability of the cartridge.

[0010]

A typical structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide an image carrier and a process acting on the image carrier in a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. And a plurality of frames for accommodating parts such as the image carrier, and a part of the first frame for accommodating the developer and a developing device for forming an image on the image carrier. It is characterized in that a part of the two-frame body is configured to be positioned and coupled in a hollow shape by a lid member that covers the developer filling port of the first frame body.

Further, the process cartridge detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus has an image carrier, process means acting on the image carrier, and a plurality of frames for housing parts such as the image carrier. Then, the first frame for accommodating the developer and the second frame having the developing means for forming an image on the image bearing member are combined with each other by using a part of the blade supporting member for supporting the developing blade. It is characterized by being configured.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that an image forming apparatus is provided with a mounting means capable of mounting the process cartridge.

[0013]

According to the present invention, a part of the first frame body and a part of the second frame body are positioned and joined together in the shape of a hollow by a lid member that covers the developer filling port of the first frame body. Because
It is possible to prevent a gap from being formed in the joint portion of the frame body.

Further, according to the present invention, the frame for accommodating the developer and the frame for the developing means are connected by using a part of the blade supporting member. The same binding force can be obtained, and at the same time, the recyclability of the cartridge is improved.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A process cartridge according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the structure of an image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the structure of a process cartridge, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a toner frame and a developing frame are combined. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A irradiates an optical image based on image information from an optical system 1 to form an image of a developer (hereinafter referred to as "toner") on a photosensitive drum which is an image carrier. To form. Then, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image,
The recording medium 2 is conveyed from the cassette 3a1 or the feeding tray 3a2 by the conveying means 3 including the pickup roller 3b1, the feeding roller 3b2, the pair of separating rollers 3c1 and 3c2, the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2, and the process cartridge B is a cartridge. In the converted image forming unit, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 serving as a transfer unit, and the drive roller 5a that drives and rotates the recording medium 2 and The transfer toner image is fixed to the recording medium 2 by being conveyed to a fixing unit 5 which includes a fixing roller 5b which has a heater 5c inside and is in pressure contact with the driving roller 5a and is driven to rotate. Then, the recording medium 2 is loaded with the intermediate roller 3e and the discharge roller pair 3f1, 3
It is configured to discharge to the discharge portion 6 by f2.
A guide member 3g for guiding the conveyance of the recording medium 2 is provided between the rollers.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section rotates a photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer, and its surface is removed by applying a voltage to a charging roller 8 as a charging means. The optical system 1
The optical image from the above is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure section 9 to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed by the developing means 10. The developing means 10 sends the toner in the toner reservoir 10a by a toner feeding member 10b to rotate a developing sleeve 10d having a fixed magnet 10c built therein, and at the same time, a developing blade 10e applies a triboelectric charge to the toner layer to develop the toner layer. The toner image is formed on the surface of, and the toner is transferred to the photoconductor drum 7 in accordance with the latent image to form a toner image and visualize it. Then, after a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium 2, the cleaning blade 11a scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7, and the scooping sheet 11b scoops it. Collection, waste toner reservoir 11
The photoconductor drum 7 is collected by the cleaning means 11 collected in c.
The upper residual toner is removed.

Each of the parts such as the photosensitive drum 7 is housed in a plurality of frame bodies constituting a housing, and as shown in FIG. 2, a toner frame as a first frame body having a toner reservoir 10a and the like. A toner developing frame body 12 including a body 12a and a developing frame body 12b as a second frame body having a developing sleeve 10d and the like, and a cleaning frame body 13 as a third frame body having the photosensitive drum 7, cleaning means 11 and the like. And are combined to form a process cartridge B.

Here, the combination of the toner frame 12a forming the toner developing frame 12 and the developing frame 12b will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The toner frame body 12a and the developing frame body 12b are welded to each other in the longitudinal joint portion 12c.
Further, in the short side coupling portion 12d, the cover film 16 attached to the opening 12a1 of the toner frame 12a has to be pulled out at the time of starting the use of the cartridge, so that it is not welded, but the seal member 17 for preventing toner leakage is used. Is attached to prevent the toner from leaking from the short side coupling portion 12d.

Further, on one end side of the short-side coupling portion of the developing frame body 12b, which is the side on which the cover film is pulled out, a protruding portion 12b1 protruding toward the toner frame body 12a side is provided, and the protruding portion 12b1 is provided on the protruding portion 12b1. A positioning hole 12b2 is formed. The positioning hole 12b2 is provided with the toner filling port 12a2 of the toner frame body 12a when the developing frame body 12b and the toner frame body 12a are combined.
It is set to be coaxial with. Then, by using the cap 18 for covering the toner filling port 12a2, the positioning hole 12b2 of the developing frame body 12b and the toner filling port 12a2 of the toner frame body 12a are positioned and coupled to each other in a hollow shape, so that both The short-side connecting portions 12d of the frame bodies 12a and 12b are more reliably positioned and connected. Thereby, both the frame bodies
It is possible to prevent a gap from being formed in the joint portion of 12a and 12b, and the toner will not leak.

Then, the toner developing frame 12 and the cleaning frame 13 which are combined as described above are combined by a connecting member (not shown) to form the process cartridge B.

The process cartridge B constructed as described above is removably mounted on the cartridge mounting means provided in the apparatus main body 15. As shown in FIG. 1, when the opening / closing member 15a is opened, the cartridge mounting means has cartridge mounting guide members (not shown) mounted on the left and right inner side surfaces of the apparatus main body 15, and the process cartridge B is inserted into the left and right guide members. Guide portions for doing so are provided facing each other. The process cartridge B is inserted along the guide portion and the opening / closing member 15a is closed to position and mount the process cartridge B in the image forming apparatus A.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of a process cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional explanatory view of a state in which a toner frame body and a developing frame body are combined. It should be noted that members having the same functions and configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b forming the toner developing frame 12 are connected to each other by the developing blade 10.
The blade supporting member 10f that supports e is used. This combining method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
A hook-shaped rib 12b3 is provided at the lower end of 12b and engages with the lower end of the toner frame 12a. Further, the developing frame
The upper end portion of the blade supporting member 10f that supports the developing blade 10e fixed to 12b is formed in a hook shape, and by engaging this hook portion 10f1 with the upper end of the toner frame 12a, The bodies 12a and 12b are connected.
A seal member 17 is attached around the opening 12a1 of the toner frame 12a, and the seal member 17 is sufficiently crushed when the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are joined together. The toner does not leak from the joint portion of the frame bodies 12a and 12b. Further, since the blade supporting member 10f is made of a member having a high rigidity such as a metal plate, a sufficient coupling strength can be obtained, and even if a shock is applied during the cartridge attaching / detaching operation, the joint portions of the two frame bodies 12a, 12b are joined together. There are no gaps and therefore toner leakage does not occur.

With the above structure, both frames 12a and 12b can obtain a bonding force equivalent to that without using welding bonding,
In addition, the recyclability of the cartridge is improved.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an exploded cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which a toner frame body and a developing frame body are combined. It should be noted that members having the same functions and configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Also in this embodiment, the toner frame 12a forming the toner developing frame 12 and the developing frame 12b are coupled to each other by using the blade supporting member 10f which supports the developing blade 10e. This combining method will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the developing device frame 12b
A key-shaped rib 12b3 is provided at the lower end of the same, and engages with the lower end of the toner frame 12a in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the upper ends of the blade supporting member 10f fixed to the developing frame 12b and the upper end of the toner frame 12a are fixed with screws to join the two frames 12a and 12b together. In this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiments, a seal member 17 is attached around the opening 12a1 of the toner frame body 12a, and the seal member 17 serves as the toner frame body 12a. Since the developing frame 12b is sufficiently crushed when it is combined with the developing frame 12b, the toner does not leak from the joint between the two frame 12a and 12b. Further, since the blade supporting member 10f is made of a member having a high rigidity such as a metal plate, a sufficient coupling strength can be obtained, and even if a shock is applied during the cartridge attaching / detaching operation, the joint portions of the two frame bodies 12a, 12b are joined together. There are no gaps and therefore toner leakage does not occur.

With the above construction, as in the above-described embodiment, both frame bodies 12a and 12b can obtain a bonding force equivalent to that without using welding and the recyclability of the cartridge is improved.

[Other Embodiments] The process cartridge according to the present invention described above is not limited to the case of forming a single color image as described above, but a plurality of developing means are provided and a plurality of color images (for example, a two color image, a three color image, a three color image, and the like) are provided. It can also be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms a color image or full color).

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 structure of the charging means, the so-called contact charging method was used in the above-mentioned first embodiment, but a tungsten wire which has been conventionally used as another structure is provided with metal shields such as aluminum around the three sides, 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.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type or the like, other than the roller type.

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 above-mentioned process cartridge 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 made 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.

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

[0040]

As described above, a part of the first frame for accommodating the developer and a part of the second frame having the developing means are covered with the developer filling port of the first frame. By positioning and connecting the cover members in the shape of a hollow, the two frame members are more firmly fixed, and therefore, it is possible to prevent a gap from being formed in the short-side connecting portion of the frame members, and thus the toner It never leaks.

Further, the first frame for accommodating the developer and the second frame having the developing means are joined together by using a part of the blade supporting member, which is equivalent to the case where both the frames are welded and joined. Since the binding force of 1 is obtained and it is not necessary to crash at the time of recycling, the work of completely removing the developer from the frame is simplified and the recyclability can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a toner frame body and a developing frame body are coupled to each other.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which the toner frame body and the developing frame body are coupled to each other.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which the toner frame body and the developing frame body are combined.

[Explanation of sign]

A ... Image forming apparatus, B ... Process cartridge, 1 ... Optical system, 2 ... Recording medium, 3 ... Conveying means, 3a1 ... Cassette,
3a2 ... feeding tray, 3b1 ... pickup roller, 3b2 ...
Feed rollers, 3c1, 3c2 ... Separation roller pairs, 3d1, 3d2 ...
Registration roller pair, 3e ... Intermediate roller, 3f1, 3f2 ... Ejection roller pair, 3g ... Guide member, 4 ... Transfer roller, 5 ...
Fixing means, 5a ... Driving roller, 5b ... Fixing roller, 5c
... heater, 6 ... discharge part, 7 ... photoconductor drum, 8 ... charging roller, 9 ... exposure part, 10 ... developing means, 10a ... toner reservoir, 10
b ... toner feeding member, 10c ... fixed magnet, 10d ... developing sleeve, 10e ... developing blade, 10f ... blade supporting member,
Reference numeral 10f1 ... Key-shaped portion, 11 ... Cleaning means, 11a ... Cleaning blade, 11b ... Squeeze sheet, 11c ... Waste toner reservoir, 12 ... Toner developing frame, 12a ... Toner frame, 12a1 ... Opening, 12a2 ... Toner filling port, 12b ... development frame, 12b1 ... projection, 12b2 ... positioning hole, 12b3 ... rib, 12c ... longitudinal connection, 12d ... short connection, 13 ... cleaning frame, 15 ... device body, 15a ... opening / closing member, 16 ... Cover film, 17 ... Seal member, 18 ... Cap

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier, process means acting on the image carrier, and a plurality of frames for housing parts such as the image carrier. And a part of the second frame having a developing means for forming an image on the image carrier, and a part of the first frame containing the developer, and a part of the developer filling port of the first frame. A process cartridge characterized in that it is configured so as to be positioned and coupled in a hollow shape by a lid member that covers. 2. The process cartridge, in the longitudinal direction thereof, the position of a lid member that joins the first frame body and the second frame body, and the edge of the cover film exposed to the outside for pulling out when the cartridge is used. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the parts are located on the same end side. 3. An image forming apparatus having a removable process cartridge, comprising: a cartridge mounting unit that removably mounts the process cartridge according to claim 1; and a transport unit for transporting a recording medium. An image forming apparatus characterized by. 4. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an image carrier, process means acting on the image carrier, and a plurality of frames for housing parts such as the image carrier. The first frame containing the developer and the second frame having the developing means for forming an image on the image carrier are joined together by using a part of the blade support member supporting the developing blade. A process cartridge characterized in that 5. The blade supporting member has a hook-shaped portion in part, and the blade-shaped member is configured to engage and connect the first frame and the second frame by using the hook-shaped portion. The process cartridge according to claim 4. 6. The process cartridge is configured such that a blade support member fixed to the second frame body and a first frame body containing the developer are screwed together and coupled. The process cartridge according to claim 4. 7. An image forming apparatus having a detachable process cartridge, comprising: cartridge mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge according to claim 4; and transporting means for transporting a recording medium. An image forming apparatus characterized by.