JPH0792620B2 - Process cartridge and method of assembling process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus and a method of assembling the process cartridge.

Here, the image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrostatic recording device and the like.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art When a developer filled in a developer container is used up, the developer is replaced with a new process cartridge, and the new process cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus to facilitate maintenance of the apparatus. The type to do is known.

Such a process cartridge (hereinafter,
Among various process equipments for image formation, for example, image carrier (electrophotographic photosensitive member, electrostatic recording dielectric, etc.), developing device, cleaning device, charger, etc. All of them are collectively attached to a common housing (outer frame) as a unit that can be attached / detached to / from the image forming apparatus main body.

By making the image forming apparatus removable from the PC cartridge as described above, the maintainability of the image forming apparatus is improved.
The user side prepares a plurality of PC cartridges having different functions such as development color, which are remarkably improved in serviceability, and the PC cartridge having the function suitable for the purpose is replaced with the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is also possible to use the same image forming apparatus main body for multi-functions by detachably attaching and detaching it. For example, as one of the configuration methods of a personal type small and lightweight image forming apparatus, It has been put to practical use.

Here, considering the service life of each member installed inside the PC cartridge, it is preferable to replace it with a new PC cartridge when a certain number of images are formed. For example, in a PC cartridge in which at least an image carrier and a developing device are incorporated, the developer container of the developing device is pre-filled with an amount of developer substantially equivalent to the service life of the image carrier. Then, when a certain number of images are formed and the developer is used up, the image carrier is considered to have reached the limit of use and the PC cartridge is replaced with a new one. As a result, it is possible to always form an image of a certain quality or higher.

[0007]

In the above process cartridge, a developer filling port is provided at an appropriate position on the wall surface of the developer container, and a predetermined amount of developer is filled into the developer container through the filling port. Then, the filling port is closed with a cap, and the PC cartridge is assembled.

Therefore, if the cap or the like is exposed from the outer frame of the process cartridge and can be easily touched,
The cap of the developer filling port can be easily removed, and the developer can be easily refilled into the developer container from this filling port.

Therefore, for a used process cartridge which should be completely used up of the developer and replaced with a new process cartridge, the cap is mounted as described above despite the deterioration of the performance of the image carrier and the like. Refill the developer into the empty developer container,
It was possible to use the used process cartridge again.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the cap that closes the developer supply port of the developer accommodating means cannot be easily removed, so that the above-mentioned action is strictly prevented, and the cap is always fixed. It is possible to form an image having a quality higher than the above.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which solves the above problems, integrally includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a developing frame having the developing means, a supply port for receiving the supply of the developer, and a cap for closing the supply port can be attached. A developer accommodating frame body having a mounting portion and an opening for communicating with the developing means, and including a developer accommodating container for accommodating the developer used in the developing means, and the supply port. A sealing member for closing the opening so that the opening is openable, and a regulation member provided on the developing frame body so as to face the cap mounted on the cap mounting portion. To process It is a cartridge.

Further, according to the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally provided,
In a method of assembling a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing frame body including the developing unit and a regulating member, a supply port for receiving a supply of a developer, and A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer used in the developing means, having a cap mounting portion capable of mounting a cap for closing the supply port, and an opening communicating with the developing means. A developer accommodating frame body provided, a seal member for opening and closing the opening, and a cap attachable to the cap mounting portion are prepared, and the sealing member is formed so as to openably close the opening. After that, the developer used in the developing means is supplied from the supply port into the developer accommodating container, and then a cap is mounted on the cap mounting portion to close the supply port. After that, a step of assembling the developing device by coupling the developing frame body and the developer accommodating frame body so that the regulating member provided on the developing frame body faces the cap mounted on the cap mounting portion. And a step of integrally assembling the developing device and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a method for assembling a process cartridge.

[0013]

With respect to the cap that closes the supply port of the developer accommodating container, the capping member located opposite to the cap cannot be removed, or the cap cannot be easily removed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The embodiment described below has a developer filling port provided on the wall surface of the developer container and a lid member that closes the developer filling port. A PC cartridge and a P cartridge in which a regulating member for preventing removal of the lid member is arranged so as to be in contact with or close to the outer surface side of the lid member that closes the developer filling port of
This is a PC cartridge assembling method for assembling a C cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the essential part of an example of a PC cartridge detachable type electrophotographic copying apparatus, in which A is the entire reference numeral of the PC cartridge which can be freely attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus.

In the case of the PC cartridge A of this embodiment, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier, a charger 2 for charging the peripheral surface of the drum 1, a developing device 3 and a cleaning device 4 are provided.
Regarding the four process equipments, the predetermined mutual arrangement relationship in the cartridge housing 10 is made so that they can be collectively attached / detached to / from the electrophotographic copying apparatus main body and the arrangement relationship described above is satisfied. Have been assembled together. Therefore, the PC cartridge A is inserted into and mounted on a predetermined portion in the main body of the apparatus along the guide rails 11 and 11 in the direction perpendicular to the drawing, or is pulled out in the opposite direction and taken out.

When the PC cartridge A is sufficiently inserted and mounted in the main body of the apparatus, mutual coupling members of the mechanical drive system and the electric circuit system on both sides of the main body of the apparatus and the PC cartridge A are coupled to each other to mechanically and electrically connect. Integrated into.

The photosensitive drum 1 assembled in the PC cartridge A is rotationally driven around the shaft 1a in a direction indicated by an arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed. Receive such a charge. Then, through the image exposure opening 5 formed on the ceiling surface of the housing 10 of the PC cartridge A, the optical image exposure apparatus (not shown) on the apparatus main body side receives the slit exposure L or laser beam scanning exposure of the optical image. As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the exposed image are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

Then, the latent image is sequentially developed with toner by the developing device 3 assembled in the PC cartridge A, and the developer is sequentially transferred to the transfer material P by the transfer device 13 on the apparatus main body side. The transfer material P is fed from a paper feed unit (not shown), synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 by the registration roller pair 12, and fed between the drum 1 and the transfer device 13 to develop on the drum 1 side. The images are sequentially transferred.

The transfer material P that has received the image transfer is sequentially separated from the surface of the drum 1, is sent to a fixing device (not shown) to be subjected to image fixing, and is discharged outside the machine as a copy.

On the other hand, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 which has passed the position of the transfer device 13 and from which the transfer material P has been separated is cleaned by the cleaning device 4 which is also mounted on the PC cartridge A and receives the residual developer after transfer. Next, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to uniform pre-exposure 1 by the light from the pre-exposure device 14 on the apparatus main body side, which is irradiated through the pre-exposure opening 6 formed on the ceiling surface of the housing 10 of the PC cartridge A. The residual electric charges are removed by the means, and the electric charges are again uniformly charged by the charger 2 and repeatedly used for image formation.

Here, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably supported by a bearing between the front end plate and the rear end plate of the cartridge housing 10, and is incorporated therein. The charger 2, the developing device 3, and the cleaning device 4 are also mounted on the housing 10. The PC cartridge A is assembled by being locked and incorporated by a fixing pin or the like inserted through the end plate at a predetermined position between the front end plate and the rear end plate. 3 is an external view of the rear end plate 10a of the PC cartridge A of FIG.
The fixing pin which penetrates a and is inserted into the inside of the housing to lock the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4 in the housing is shown. Therefore, these devices can be removed from the housing 10 by removing the fixing pin.

FIG. 4 shows the rear end plate 1 of the housing in FIG.
0a is omitted, and 3a, 4a, and 4a are developing devices 3.
And the fixing pin 15 provided on the cleaning device 4 side.
16 is a pin insertion hole into which the tip of 16 is inserted and engaged. G1 is a drum gear which is provided on the rear end side of the photosensitive drum 1 concentrically with the drum and integrally with the drum, and when the PC cartridge A is inserted into the main body of the apparatus in a predetermined and sufficient manner, the drive gear G _D on the main body side of the apparatus is provided. The meshing force is transmitted to the drum gear G1 by the rotational force of the drive gear G _D , and the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed. G2 is a sleeve gear that is provided concentrically with the sleeve integrally with the sleeve on the rear end side of the developing sleeve 33, which will be described later, of the developing device 3, and meshes with the drum gear G1. Therefore, when the drum 1 is rotationally driven, the developing sleeve 33 is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed in conjunction with the rotational driving.

The developing device 3 assembled in the PC cartridge A to assemble the PC cartridge A is shown in FIG.
As shown in the exploded perspective view and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the developing device 31 and the developer container 32 are roughly combined. Figure 1
Is an exploded perspective view of the developing device as viewed from the rear end side thereof. The developing device 31 is provided with a developing sleeve 33, a developing mechanism such as a doctor blade 34 for uniformly coating the peripheral surface of the sleeve 33 with a developer, and an obliquely upward opening 35. Reference numeral 35a denotes a flange edge provided on the peripheral edge of the opening, and an upward projecting wall 36 is provided on the rear end side of the flange edge. The developer container 32 is a container made of, for example, a transparent or opaque synthetic resin having an obliquely downward opening 37 corresponding to the obliquely upward opening 35 of the developing device 31, and the oblique downward opening 37 is attached with a seal sheet 38. It is closed by wearing it. 37a
Is a flange edge provided on the periphery of the obliquely downward opening 37. Container wall surface 32a on the rear end side of the developer container 32
Is provided with a developer filling port 39, from which a predetermined amount of developer (toner) T is filled into the container 32, and after filling, the port 39 is closed by a cap 40. The cap 40 of this embodiment is a light press-fitting type cap.

When assembling the PC cartridge A, the developing device 31 and the developer container 32 filled with the developer T are enclosed by the flange edges 35a.
The flanges 35a and 37a are welded to each other to be integrally assembled. In this assembled state, the projecting wall 36 on the side of the developing device 31 contacts or approaches the outer surface side of the cap 40 that closes the developer filling port 39 of the developer container 32, and opens at the opposite position. Functions as a lid blocking member. In the case of the device of this embodiment, the entire outer surface of the cap 40 is covered with the protruding wall 36.

The above-assembled developing device 3 is assembled in the cartridge housing 10 with the fixing pin 15 as described above, and the PC cartridge A is assembled.

Therefore, in the PC cartridge A of this embodiment, the cap 40 cannot be removed, or the cap 40 cannot be easily removed.

The obliquely downward opening 3 of the developer container 32
The seal sheet 38 that closes 7 has its front side extending outwardly as a pull knob 38a (FIG. 1). Therefore, when the user uses a new PC cartridge A, the user grasps the knob portion 38a and pulls out the seal sheet 38 from the inside of the developing device 3 against the sticking force to remove the developing device 31 and the developer container. 32 and the developer T contained in the container 32 is in communication with the developing device 3
1 (FIG. 6), and the state becomes ready for development.

In the PC cartridge A of this embodiment, the cap 40 fitted in the developer filling port 39 is removed even if the developing device 3 is removed from the cartridge housing 10 by removing the fixing pin 15 when disassembling the cartridge. Has a projecting wall 36 as a lid blocking member which is integral with the developing device 31 on the outer side thereof and is in contact with or close to the opposing position (FIG. 5), so that the projecting wall 36 is removed as an obstacle. I can't. Since the projecting wall 36 is integral with the developing device 31, it cannot be removed, and if it is flexed forcibly, the projecting wall or the developing device itself will be destroyed.

Even when the developer container 32 is separated from the developing device 31 and the lid is to be opened, the abutting flange edges 35a and 37a of the both 31 and 32 are integrally welded to each other. If the parts are forcibly opened, the flange edges 35a and 37a and the developing device itself will be destroyed.

Therefore, the used PC which should be replaced originally
It is possible to prevent the act of resupplying the developer to the developer container of the cartridge.

The lid member for closing the developer filling port 39 may be a screw lid, or a very simple one such as an adhesive seal will suffice, which is advantageous in terms of cost. In assembling the PC cartridge A, particularly in the above-described embodiment, the member for assembling and supporting the developing device 3 in the cartridge housing 10 and the developer filling port 39 as described above even when the developing device 3 is removed from the housing 10 Since it is not possible to take off the lid member 40, it is not necessary to use a complete press-fit type pin or a special head screw, and it is possible to assemble the PC cartridge in the same process as normal assembly. Excellent mass productivity and cost performance.

The position of the developer filling port 39 provided in the developer container 32 is arbitrary, and corresponding to the position of the port,
The PC cartridge A may be assembled by disposing the lid opening preventing member so as to be in contact with or close to the outer surface of the lid member fitted in the mouth so as to face each other.

Further, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 3 in which the rotary crank rod 41 for stirring the developer in the developer container 32 is incorporated. The rear end 41a of the crank rod 41 is rotatably provided on the outer side of the projecting wall 36 serving as the lid opening preventing member as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 via the crank gear G5 and the crank rod bearing 42. It is connected. The crank gear G5 is meshed with the developing sleeve gear G2 via relay gears G3 and G4. As described above, the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing sleeve 33 are rotationally driven by the rotational drive of the drive gear G _D , and the crank rod 41 is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed in association with the rotation of the developing sleeve 33 to develop the image. The developer T in the device 3 is agitated.

The developing device of this embodiment is the crank rod 41.
1 to FIG. 5, the developer filling port 39 is provided at a position avoiding the crank bar bearing portion 42 on the container wall surface 32a on the rear end side of the developer container 32. .

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the act of replenishing and reusing the developer with respect to the process cartridge that should be originally replaced.
It is possible to provide a process cartridge and a method of assembling the process cartridge, in which an intended purpose of always maintaining an image at a predetermined quality or higher is achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a developing device configured according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus in which a PC cartridge assembled by incorporating the developing device shown in FIG. 1 is mounted.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a rear end surface of a PC cartridge assembled by incorporating the developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which a rear end wall of the cartridge housing of the PC cartridge shown in FIG. 3 is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lid member and a lid opening prevention member portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device having a developer stirring rod built therein.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a PC cartridge that is assembled with a cattrain that rotationally drives the stirring rod shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a catrain.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A PC cartridge 1 photosensitive drum 3 developing device 31 developing device 32 developer container 36 blocking member 39 developer filling port 40 cap

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge which integrally has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and which is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. A developing device frame having the developing device, a supply port for receiving the supply of the developer, a cap mounting portion to which a cap for closing the supply port can be mounted, and an opening for communicating with the developing device. And a developer accommodating frame body having a developer accommodating container for accommodating the developer used in the developing means, and the cap mounted on the cap mounting portion for closing the supply port. A process cartridge comprising: a regulating member provided on the developing device frame so as to face the developing frame; and a seal member for opening the opening so as to open the process cartridge. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing frame body and the developer accommodating frame body are joined by welding. 3. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, in addition to a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that 4. In addition to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, cleaning for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 5. An assembly of a process cartridge which integrally has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. In the method, a cap capable of mounting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing frame body including the developing unit and a regulating member, a supply port for receiving a supply of a developer, and a cap for closing the supply port A developer accommodating frame body having a mounting part and an opening for communicating with the developing means, and including a developer accommodating container for accommodating the developer used in the developing means, and the opening. A seal member for opening and closing, and a cap attachable to the cap attaching portion are prepared, the seal member is attached so as to openably close the opening, and then used in the developing unit. An image agent is supplied from the supply port into the developer storage container, then a cap is mounted on the cap mounting portion to close the supply port, and then a regulating member provided on the developing device frame is A step of assembling the developing device by combining the developing frame member and the developer accommodating frame member so as to face the cap attached to the cap attaching part; and integrally forming the developing device and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. And a process cartridge assembling method, comprising: 6. The method for assembling a process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the developing frame body and the developer accommodating frame body are joined by welding. 7. The electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed. The method for assembling a process cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising the step of assembling. 8. In addition to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, cleaning for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge assembling method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of assembling the means integrally.