JPH08292705A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent developers from sticking to an electrostatic charging means even if these developers splash from a developing means by providing the electrostatic charging means with a film member so as to cover the electrostatic charging means on the downstream side from the charging means in the rotating direction of an electrophotographic photoreceptor. CONSTITUTION: A cartridge frame 10 has a film member 27 as a splashed toner preventive member for preventing the adhesion of the toners splashing from the developing unit 4 to a primary electrostatic charging roller 8. The film member 27 is disposed spreading in the longitudinal direction so as to cover the electrostatic charging roller 8 on the developing unit 4 side from the primary electrostatic charging roller 8 built into the cartridge frame 10. Then, even if there are the toners 4h splashing from the developing unit 4, the toners are shielded by the filter member 27 and, therefore, the adhesion of the splashed toners 4h at the primary electrostatic charging roller 8 does not arise. The film member 27 is formed longer than the irradiation range in the main scanning direction of a laser beam.

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 electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

Here, the image forming apparatus includes, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor and the like.

Further, as the process cartridge, a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means and an 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. Furthermore,
At least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is formed into an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the main body is adopted. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without resorting to a serviceman, so that the operability can be markedly improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

Particularly, in a full-color image forming apparatus capable of forming a full-color image by using a plurality of developing means, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging means and the cleaning means as process means are integrated in a frame body. Used process cartridges. When this process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, the developing means on the apparatus main body side and the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the process cartridge are brought close to each other via the gap holding member, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developer carrying member of the developing means are carried. Positioning is performed while maintaining a very small gap with the body. Then, at the time of image formation, the image light (laser beam) is irradiated onto the electrophotographic photosensitive member through the space between the charging unit and the developing unit.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the above-described structure, and an object of the present invention is to prevent contamination by scattered toner or the like from a developing means adjacent to a charging means. .

[0007]

A typical constitution of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a process cartridge detachable from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A charging unit that acts on the photoconductor and a cartridge frame that supports the electrophotographic photoconductor and the charging unit. The charging unit supported by the cartridge frame is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photoconductor. A film member is provided so as to cover the charging means.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the charging means supported by the cartridge frame is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
Since the film member is provided so as to cover the charging unit, even if the developer is scattered from the developing unit, the developer is not blocked by the film member and attached to the charging unit, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member is also provided. A sufficient gap (a gap between the cartridge frame and the developing means) through which the image light radiated on the body passes can be secured, and the image light can be prevented from being blocked by vibration of the cartridge or the like.

[0009]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] First, an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a full-color laser beam printer capable of forming a full-color image by using a plurality of developing means is exemplified as one mode of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge B of the laser beam printer A is detachable as described later.

First, regarding the process cartridge and the full-color laser beam printer according to the first embodiment,
This will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Now, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the structure of a full-color laser beam printer, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the process cartridge (a state where a part of the frame is removed), and FIGS. 4 and 5 are external views of the process cartridge.

Here, the overall configuration of the full-color laser beam printer and the configuration of each part will be described in the order of description, and then the configuration of the process cartridge and the configuration of each part will be described.

[Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus] First, the overall configuration of the full-color laser beam printer A will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus conveys a recording medium P by a conveying unit 1 and winds the recording medium P around a transfer drum 2 a forming a transfer unit 2. In synchronization with this, a light image is emitted from the scanner unit 3 to the photosensitive drum 7, which is a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member in the process cartridge B, to form a latent image. Then, the developing unit 4 equipped with four developing means is operated to form an image by the developer (hereinafter referred to as "toner") corresponding to each color, and the image is formed on the recording medium P so that the respective colors overlap. Transfer in sequence. Then, the recording medium P after the toner image transfer is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 to fix the toner image, and then the recording medium P is ejected to the ejecting unit 6 in the upper part of the apparatus.

In the color image forming apparatus A, the process cartridge B, the developing means (or toner cartridge) of the developing unit 4 and the feeding cassette 1a as a recording medium cassette are arranged in the same direction of the apparatus main body (front side in FIG. 1). ) Is removable. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing cover 18 is attached to the printer main body 20 to attach / detach them.
By opening and closing against. The open / close cover 18 is an axis
It can be opened and closed in the direction of arrow a with respect to the printer body 20 around the center 18a. In this way, the opening / closing cover 18 is opened / closed for maintenance of the apparatus (including jam processing and the like). Incidentally, 18b is a handle, which is used for attaching and detaching the feeding cassette 1a.

Next, the structure of each part of the color image forming apparatus will be sequentially described in detail.

(Conveying means) The conveying means is a feeding cassette 1a.
The recording mediums P that are stacked and stored in the recording medium P are conveyed, and the recording mediums P in the feeding cassette 1a detachably mounted on the bottom of the apparatus are picked up by the pickup roller 1b and the feeding roller 1c.
Send one by one. Then, the fed recording medium P is conveyed to the registration roller pair 1f by the guide plate 1d and the continuous feeding roller 1e, and is conveyed to the transfer drum 2a at the same timing by the registration roller pair 1f.

Further, the recording medium P after transfer is separated by a separating member 1g.
Is separated from the transfer drum 2a by the guide plate 1h, and is guided by the guide plate 1h to the fixing unit 5, and the recording medium P after fixing is discharged by the discharge roller pair 1i on the upper surface of the apparatus.
To discharge.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the rollers 1b, 1
The c, 1e, 1f and the guide 1d are integrated as a feeding unit 19 and can be inserted and removed in the direction of arrow b. That is, in the feeding unit 19, the rail 19a is slidably supported by the guide 20a on the printer body 20 side, and the grip 19
Hold b and insert / remove it in the direction of arrow b. The feeding unit 19 is provided with a positioning shaft 19c. When the feeding unit 19 is inserted and mounted in the printer body 20, the positioning shaft 19c fits into a fitting hole (not shown) of the printer body 20, The feeding unit 19 is positioned and fixed to the printer body 20.

(Transfer Unit) The transfer unit transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 onto the recording medium P. In this embodiment, the recording medium P is transferred onto the transfer drum 2a which rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. And the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superposed and transferred onto the recording medium P.

The transfer drum 2a has a dielectric layer on the outermost circumference, and is driven to rotate about a shaft 2b by receiving a driving force transmitted from a driving motor (not shown). A gripper 2c is provided at a predetermined position on the outer periphery, and the gripper 2c grips the leading end of the recording medium P conveyed by the registration roller pair 1f.

An electrostatic attraction roller 2d which can be brought into contact with and separated from the transfer drum 2a is provided near the outer periphery of the transfer drum 2a so that the recording medium P is sandwiched between the electrostatic attraction roller 2d and the transfer drum 2a. Is pressed against the outer periphery of the transfer drum 2a. Then, by applying a voltage between the electrostatic attraction roller 2d and the transfer drum 2a, charges are induced in the recording medium P, which is a dielectric, and the dielectric layer of the transfer drum 2a, and the recording medium P is transferred to the transfer drum 2a. Electrostatically adsorbed on the outer periphery of.

In the transfer drum 2a facing the photoconductor drum 7, when the recording medium P held by the transfer drum 2a comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 7, the toner image on the photoconductor drum 7 has the opposite polarity. There is provided a transfer charger 2e for applying the voltage to transfer the toner image.

The method of attracting the recording medium P to the transfer drum 2a is not limited to the electrostatic attraction, but may be a suction method using air or the like.

(Scanner Section) The scanner section 3 irradiates the photosensitive drum 7 with laser light according to an image signal. The scanner unit 3 scans the light from the laser diode 3a, which emits light of each color according to the image signal, with the rotating polygon mirror 3b, and scans the light on the photosensitive drum 7 via the imaging lens 3c and the reflection mirror 3d. Irradiation is performed to form a latent image.

(Developing Means) The developing unit 4 transfers the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 to magenta, cyan, yellow,
The image is developed by developing with black toner of each color. It has developing means (magenta developing means 4M, cyan developing means 4C, yellow developing means 4Y, black developing means 4B) for developing with each color toner.

The four developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4
B is a rotation mechanism (not shown) that responds to the image forming operation.
The respective developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y and 4B are rotatable so as to sequentially face the photoconductor drum 7. That is, the developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y and 4B are arranged so that they can be indexed and rotated about the rotation axis 4a at every 90 degrees. Further, the center of each developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4B is configured to rotate in association with a rotation gear (not shown) arranged on the outer periphery of a revolving gear (not shown), and its posture is always constant. I try to keep it. The developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4B have the same configuration except that the toners of different colors are stored, and the toner container 4
b, coating roller 4c, developing roller 4d, developing blade 4
e, the spacing member 4g, and the like.

When forming an image, magenta, cyan,
Developing means 4 corresponding to each color development of yellow and black
M, 4C, 4Y, and 4B rotate around the shaft 4a, and one of the developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, and 4B stops at the position facing the photoconductor drum 7 and is disposed at both ends of the developing roller 4d. The distance holding members 4g provided are in contact with both ends of the photoconductor drum 7 and are positioned so as to face each other with a minute gap (about 200 to 600 μm), and then toner images of the respective color toners are sequentially formed on the photoconductor drum 7. Form. That is,
Each of the developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, and 4B sends the toner in the toner container 4b corresponding to the color to be developed to the coating roller 4c by the feeding mechanism, and rotates the coating roller 4c and the developing roller 4d which is rotated by the developing blade 4e. A toner layer is formed on the outer circumference, and the toner is charged (frictional charging).
Is given. By applying a developing bias between the developing roller 4d and the photosensitive drum 7 on which the latent image is formed, toner development is performed on the photosensitive drum 7 according to the latent image.

To replenish the toner in the toner container 4b, a mounting portion is provided which allows the cylindrical toner cartridge 4f to be attached to and detached from the toner container 4b, and the toner cartridge 4f is attached to the mounting portion in the longitudinal direction. It can be mounted by inserting it from the front side to the back side of the device shown in FIG.

Although not shown, when replenishing toner, the developing means 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4B are sequentially rotated 90 degrees about the rotation shaft 4a, the cartridge mounting portions are sequentially replaced, and the cartridges are axially moved at a fixed position. The toner cartridge 4f can be pulled out and replaced.

(Fixing Means) The fixing means 5 fixes the toner transferred onto the recording medium P. As shown in FIG. 1, it is composed of a driving roller 5a that is driven and rotated, and a fixing roller 5b that presses against the driving roller 5a and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium P. That is, the recording medium P separated from the transfer drum 2a
Is transported by the drive roller 5a when passing through the fixing unit 5, and heat and pressure are applied by the fixing roller 5b. As a result, the unfixed toner image transferred onto the recording medium P is fixed.

A cleaning member 5c is in contact with the fixing roller 5b, and the toner adhering to the roller 5b is removed by the cleaning member 5c, and at the same time, an offset preventive agent is applied.

{Structure of Process Cartridge} The process cartridge B is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a photosensitive drum 7 which is a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, and at least one acting on the drum 7. It is an integrated structure of two process means. In this embodiment, as the process means, the primary charging means 8 and the cleaning means 9 are incorporated in the cartridge frame 10 to form a unit. The process cartridge B has a removable protective cover that protects the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 7 when it is not mounted.

Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge will be sequentially described in detail.

(Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member) In this embodiment, a drum-shaped photosensitive drum 7 is used as the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and it rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 during image formation. This photosensitive drum 7 is, as shown in FIG.
An organic photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) 7b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder 7a as a conductive substrate.

In the photosensitive layer 7b of the photosensitive drum 7, the photosensitive layer area 7b1 is in contact with the cleaning blade 9a for removing the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7.
And the contact area 7b3 of the seal member 9e which prevents the toner from leaking from both ends of the blade 9a to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the drum. As a result, the cleaning member 9a and the seal member 9 for preventing toner leakage are formed in the photosensitive layer uneven area 7b4 at the edge of the photosensitive layer, which is caused by liquid dripping and uneven peeling during the formation of the photosensitive layer.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent defective cleaning, toner leakage, and the like from occurring due to the slight unevenness of the electrophotographic photosensitive member due to the uneven photosensitive layer region 7b4.

The aluminum cylinder 7a of the photosensitive drum 7 has a length 7a2 in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a spacing member for keeping the spacing between the photosensitive layer region 7b1 and the developing roller 4d and the photosensitive drum 7 constant. A length longer than the total length of 4 g of the contact area 7a1 is used. The spacing member 4g is brought into contact with the non-photosensitive layer area 7a3 outside the photosensitive layer area 7b1. This allows
The spacing member 4g does not come into contact with the photosensitive layer uneven area 7b4 at the edge of the photosensitive layer, which is caused by liquid dripping or uneven peeling when the photosensitive layer is formed, and the developing roller 4d and the photosensitive drum 7 are provided.
It is possible to prevent an image defect or the like from occurring due to a slight change in the interval between the and.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member is the photosensitive drum 7 described above.
It is not limited to, but includes, for example, the following.
First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor, and examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and the above-mentioned organic photoconductor (OPC). Further, examples of the shape in which the photoconductor is mounted include a rotating body such as a drum shape and a belt shape, and a sheet shape. Incidentally, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is generally used. For example, in the case of a drum type photoconductor, a photoconductor is applied or vapor-deposited on a cylinder of aluminum alloy or the like as described above. It is a thing.

(Supporting Shaft for Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member) As shown in FIG. 7, the photosensitive drum 7 has a photosensitive member supporting center of rotation at both longitudinal ends (front side and rear side in the cartridge inserting direction). It has a shaft 7c and a cracked shaft 7d.
The photoconductor supporting shaft 7c and the cracked shaft 7d are integrally formed with drum flanges 7e and 7f, which are attached to both ends of the drum cylinder 7a, respectively. This photoconductor support shaft 7
a drum flange 7e integrally formed with the drum cylinder 7a and a drum flange 7f integrally formed with the tip shaft 7d.
The photoconductor drum 7 is formed by press-fitting the front side and the back side of each of them and assembling them by adhesion or caulking.

Here, in order to align the photoconductor support shaft 7c and the tip split shaft 7d with the axial line passing through the rotation center of the photoconductor drum 7 (broken line in FIG. 7), the drum flange 7e on the front side and the back side The drum flange 7f on the side is accurately formed by a method such as collective cutting. That is, in the flange 7e, the fitting portion of the photosensitive member support shaft 7c and the drum cylinder 7a
For the fitting part to the flange and the flange 7f, the cracked shaft 7d
If the concentricity of the fitting portion of the above and the fitting portion of the drum cylinder 7a is accurately obtained, the photoconductor support shaft 7c and the cracked shaft 7d can be easily aligned with the axis passing through the rotation center of the photoconductor drum 7. it can. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the shake and the like at the time of rotation of the photoconductor drum 7 due to the deterioration of the accuracy of the coaxiality of the shafts 7c and 7d, and to reduce the occurrence of image defects and the like.

Further, as can be seen from FIG. 8, the tip end of the tip cracking shaft 7d, which is located on the tip end side in the cartridge insertion direction, is formed in the tip tip end shape so as to be directly connected to the drive mechanism on the apparatus main body side when the cartridge is mounted. ing. Therefore, when the process cartridge B is inserted and mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the outer shape of the pre-split shaft 7d fits into the inner diameter of the drive shaft 28a on the apparatus main body side, and at the same time, the drive piece 28b inside the drive shaft 28a.
Into the cracked portion of the cracked shaft 7d, and the photosensitive drum 7
Is connected to a drive mechanism on the apparatus body side. Since the drive shaft 28a and the drive piece 28b rotate together,
When 28a rotates, the photosensitive drum 7 also rotates. As a result, since the photosensitive drum 7 can be rotated without using a gear or the like, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of image defects due to uneven pitch of the gear or the like.

In the present invention, the tip shaft 7d of the photosensitive drum 7 is a conductive member for grounding the photosensitive drum 7,
Also, it is configured to also serve as a conductive member for detecting the life of the photosensitive drum 7. As will be described later, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged by the primary charging roller 8. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the primary charging roller 8 receives the primary charging bias from the apparatus main body side through the contact plate 8b, and this bias is applied to the photosensitive drum 7. At this time, the photoconductor drum 7 includes the drum cylinder 7a and the cracked shaft 7
Since d is electrically connected by a ground plate (not shown), the fractured shaft 7d becomes a ground shaft as a result. Further, by detecting the current value in this portion, it is possible to detect the change in the film thickness of the photosensitive layer 7b of the photosensitive drum 7, and it is possible to detect the life of the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, the photosensitive layer 7
It is not necessary to separately provide a conductive member for detecting the film thickness of b, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

(Seal Member) Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, napped seal members 13 are arranged at both longitudinal ends of the cartridge frame 10 which supports both ends of the photosensitive drum 7. . The napped seal member 13 is arranged so as to always contact the contact peripheral surface 7a1 (hatched portion in the figure) of the photosensitive drum 7 with which the spacing members 4g at both ends of the developing roller 4d contact (FIG. 11). Toner and the like attached to the contact peripheral surface 7a1 of the photoconductor drum 7 are wiped off when the drum is rotated and stored inside the nap. Thereby, the gap between the photoconductor drum 7 and the developing roller 4d can be properly maintained, and the wiped toner can be prevented from scattering around.

The napped seal member 13 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the raised hairs are arranged so that the falling direction is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 7. As a result, the raised hair of the seal member 13 becomes a pseudo wall with respect to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 in the rotation direction, and even if the amount of toner wiped off becomes large due to the progress of durability, the toner will not oppose the seal member 13. It has a structure that is hard to blow out to the side (downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 7). Here, as a simple means for storing all the wiped toner, for example, the size of the seal member 13 may be increased. As a result, the amount of toner that can be stored can be increased, and the number of durable sheets can be increased without making particularly difficult settings. In this embodiment, the seal member 13
As a double-layered seal member, a side that comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 7 is a raised member and a cartridge frame side is an elastic member such as sponge.

Further, the cartridge frame 10 is provided with arcuate ribs 10a concentric with the photosensitive drum 7 at portions (both longitudinal ends) of the photosensitive drum 7 with respect to the non-photosensitive layer area 7a3, and The portion of the drum 7 with respect to the photosensitive layer region 7b1 (for example, the bearing rib 10b of the primary charging means 8) is arranged so as not to project in the drum center direction from the arc portion of the arc-shaped rib 10b. As a result, when the photosensitive drum 7 is incorporated into the cartridge frame 10, only the non-photosensitive layer area 7a3 of the photosensitive drum 7 is accommodated in the cartridge frame 10.
Since it comes into contact with the (arc-shaped rib 10a), it is possible to prevent the photosensitive layer region 7b1 of the photosensitive drum 7 from being damaged during assembly.

(Charging Means) The primary charging means 8 uses a so-called contact charging method, in which a conductive roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and a voltage is applied to the conductive roller to cause the photosensitive drum to rotate. The surface of 7 is uniformly charged. The conductive roller is driven by the photosensitive drum 7 to rotate. A contact plate 8b is in contact with one end of the shaft 8a of the primary charging means 8, and a part of the contact plate 8b is exposed on the side surface of the process cartridge B (see FIG. 5). Therefore, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the contact plate 8b comes into contact with the main body side contact, and the primary charging means 8 is electrically connected.

(Cleaning Means) Cleaning Means 9
After the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 by each developing unit of the developing unit 4 is transferred to the recording medium P,
The toner (hereinafter referred to as “waste toner”) remaining on the photoconductor drum 7 is removed and collected, and is carried out to the waste toner storage box 11 mounted in the cartridge. The cleaning means 9 according to the present embodiment agitates the elastic cleaning blade 9a for scraping off the waste toner on the photosensitive drum 7, the squeeze sheet 9b for preventing the scraped waste toner from overflowing to the drum side, and the scraped waste toner. The stirring member 9c and the toner conveying screw 9d for discharging the waste toner collected by the stirring member 9c to the waste toner storage box 11 are provided in the cartridge frame.
It is configured to be integrated into 10 inside. In addition, at both ends of the cleaning blade 9a and the squeegee sheet 9b in the longitudinal direction, a seal member 9 for preventing leakage of waste toner from the ends is provided.
e is provided. Both ends of the cleaning blade 9a and the squeeze sheet 9b are pressed against the photosensitive drum 7 by the seal member 9e.

(Squishy Sheet) The Squishe Sheet 9b
As shown in FIG. 12, both ends 9b3 are obliquely cut so that the width L _{1 of the} tip (on the side of the cleaning blade 9a) 9b1 is narrower than the width L ₂ of the root 9b2. Has been done. As a result, the area of both ends 9b3 of the scooping sheet 9b sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 7 and the seal member 9e becomes smaller than that of the conventional scooping sheet 9b '(broken line portion in the figure). Therefore, the area of the squi sheet 9b pulled as the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated is reduced, so that the squeeze sheet 9b can be prevented from waving.
It is possible to prevent toner leakage due to the waviness. Also, at both ends 9b3 of the squishy sheet 9b,
Since the root portion 9b2 has a sufficiently larger amount of overlap with the seal member 9e than the tip portion 9b1, the squishe sheet 9b and the seal member 9e
Toner does not leak from the overlapping portion of e.

(Toner Conveying Screw) The toner conveying screw 9d has a spiral screw blade 9d2 around the screw shaft 9d1, and the screw shaft 9d1 projects at least to one end side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the screw blade 9d2. . As shown in FIG. 13, the projecting portion 9d3 of the screw shaft 9d1 is provided so as to project on the same side as the pre-split shaft 7d of the photosensitive drum 7, and the tip of the projecting portion 9d3 serves as a drive mechanism on the apparatus main body side when the cartridge is mounted. It is formed in the shape of a crack so as to be directly connected. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a screw drive gear 14a is attached to the protruding portion 9d3, and the screw drive gear 14a is connected to an agitating drive gear 14b attached to one end of an agitating member 9c via an idler gear 14c. are doing. Therefore, when the process cartridge B is inserted and mounted in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 7 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 13), the projecting portion 9d3 is fitted to the drive shaft 28c on the apparatus main body side in the same manner as the photosensitive drum 7 described above. Then, the toner conveying screw 9d is connected to the drive mechanism on the apparatus main body side. Then, when the drive shaft 28c rotates, the toner conveying screw 9d rotates, and at the same time, the stirring member 9c also rotates.

As described above, the protruding portion 9d3, which is the driving force receiving portion of the toner conveying screw 9d, is arranged on the same side as the cracked shaft 7d, which is the driving force receiving portion of the photosensitive drum 7, and the cartridge B is set to the photosensitive drum 7. Axis direction (arrow direction in Figure 13)
When the cartridge is mounted, the projecting portion 9d3 and the tip split shaft 7d are connected to the drive shafts 28a and 28c of the drive mechanism on the apparatus main body side, so that the rotating operation after mounting the cartridge, which is conventionally necessary, is unnecessary. Therefore, the operability of the cartridge is improved.

Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
It is arranged above the photoconductor drum 7. The waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 9a is scraped up by the stirring member 9c to the position of the toner carrying screw 9d. As a result, when the waste toner is scraped up by the stirring member 9c, a small amount of the waste toner remains at the contact portion between the cleaning blade 9a and the photosensitive drum 7, so that the cleaning blade 9a and the photosensitive drum 7 are lubricated. Therefore, the cleaning blade 9a can be prevented from being turned over due to durability.

(Cartridge frame) Cartridge frame 10
In the above, the photosensitive drum 7, the primary charging means 8 and the cleaning means 9 are integrally incorporated, and the waste toner storage box 11 is detachably mounted.

(Cover Member) The Cartridge Frame 10
15, has cover members 25a, 25b for positioning and supporting the photosensitive drum 7 on both sides in the longitudinal direction thereof. Specifically, the cover members 25a and 25b are configured to position and support the drum 7 with reference to the outer peripheral portion of the bearing member 26 that rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 7. Also, the cover members 25a, 25b
Is integrally formed with a positioning section for positioning the cartridge B with respect to the printer body. That is, one cover member 25a is provided with a positioning pin 25c which is inserted into a positioning hole (not shown) on the printer body side in the cartridge insertion direction, and the other cover member 25b is provided with a positioning pin (not shown) on the printer body side. ) Is inserted in the cartridge insertion direction.
Therefore, when the process cartridge B is attached to the printer main body, the positioning pin 25c is inserted into the positioning hole on the printer main body side, and at the same time, the positioning pin on the printer main body side is inserted into the positioning hole 25d, so that the process cartridge B becomes the printer. Positioned and mounted on the main body.

Therefore, in the cover members 25a and 25b of the cartridge frame 10, the bearing member 26 of the photosensitive drum 7 is used.
The process cartridge B is accurately positioned with respect to the printer body by accurately forming the support portion that supports the drum 7 with reference to the outer peripheral portion of the printer body and the positioning portion that is coupled to the positioning portion on the printer body side. That is, the photosensitive drum 7 can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the printer body, and a good image can be obtained.

Further, the cartridge frame 10 has a projecting wall on the outside of the front end wall 10c1 in FIG. 1 in parallel with the end wall 10c1.
10c2 is provided, and the edges of the end wall 10c1 and the protruding wall 10c2 are the peripheral walls 10c.
It is connected by c3 to form a space inside. The protruding wall 10
On the front side of c2, a grip 10d for taking out the cartridge is integrally formed so as to surround the discharge cylinder 10e. With these, the cover member of the cartridge frame 10
25a.

(Scattering Toner Preventing Member) Further, the cartridge frame 10 has a film member 27 as a scattering toner preventing member for preventing toner scattered from the developing unit 4 from adhering to the primary charging roller 8. There is. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the film member 27 is provided on the developing unit 4 side of the primary charging roller 8 incorporated in the cartridge frame 10 so as to cover the charging roller 8 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even if the toner 4h scattered from the developing unit 4 is blocked by the film member 27, the scattered toner 4h does not adhere to the primary charging roller 8. Here, for example, when the cartridge frame is used to cover the primary charging roller instead of the film member, the gap between the cartridge frame and the developing unit is narrowed, that is, the laser light 3e emitted from the scanner to the photosensitive drum 7e. There is a possibility that the cartridge frame 10 may block the laser light 3e due to the tolerance of each component, vibration during operation of the cartridge and the printer main body, etc. Therefore, by forming this portion with the film member 27, in addition to the above effect, the gap
27a can be sufficiently secured, and the laser beam 3e from the scanner is prevented from being blocked. The film member 27 is formed longer than the irradiation range 3f of the laser beam in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the laser light 3e from being blocked from the scanner.

Although the film member 27 is made of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of about 50 μm to 300 μm in this embodiment, the film member 27 is not limited to this.

(Guide part) Further, the cartridge frame body
As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19, a guide portion 10d1 for guiding and supporting the waste toner storage box 11 when the waste toner storage box 11 is attached and detached is integrally formed in the axial direction. In the waste toner storage box 11, a stepped projecting waste toner receiving portion 11b is detachably attached to the upper part of the waste toner storage portion 11a, and the discharge cylinder 10e of the cartridge B enters the waste toner receiving portion 11b. A waste toner drop port 11b1 is provided. A mounting surface 11b2 of the waste toner storage box 11 is formed with a guide portion 10d1 formed on the handle 10d.
Put it on and place it along the line. Here, the difference between the outer diameter of the discharge cylinder 10e and the inner diameter of the waste toner drop opening 11b1 is set to be small, and this connecting portion has the above-mentioned guide portion 10d1.
Since the toner is substantially covered with 10d, it is possible to suppress toner scattering and the like, and prevent the inside of the device from being soiled.

(Lock Claw) Further, a lock claw 10d2 having elasticity for locking / unlocking the process cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body when the cartridge is attached / detached is integrally formed on the side wall of the handle 10d. This lock claw 10d2
When the cartridge is mounted, the process cartridge B is engaged with the engaging portion 17 on the apparatus main body side due to its elasticity, and the process cartridge B is locked in the apparatus main body. Further, when the cartridge is removed, the user grasps the handle 10d at the same time to grasp the lock claw 10d2, so that the engagement with the engaging portion 17 on the apparatus main body side is released and the process cartridge B can be pulled out from the apparatus main body. It becomes a state. This lock claw 10
Due to d2, locking / unlocking at the time of attachment / detachment of the cartridge is facilitated, operability is improved, and the configuration of the cartridge lock mechanism is simplified, so that the cost can be reduced.

(Toner Discharge Cylinder) Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the discharge cylinder 10e projects outward from the projecting wall 10c2 in the handle 10d for taking out the cartridge. The discharge tube 10e has a hollow cylindrical shape and has an opening 10e1 at the bottom thereof.
A projecting edge 10e2 is provided at the edge of e1 in parallel with the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 9d, and the tip thereof is suspended.

A cylindrical shutter 10 is provided in the discharge cylinder 10e.
f is rotatably fitted. The shutter 10f is biased in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a biasing means (not shown), and the waste toner drop prevention wall 10f1 extending in the tangential direction of this cylinder is provided.
And a waste toner discharge port 10f2 formed on the downstream side of the prevention wall 10f1 in the urging direction. Normally, shutter 10f
The waste toner drop prevention wall 10 is urged by the urging force of the urging means.
The upper surface of f1 hits the protruding edge 10e2 of the discharge tube 10e and stops,
The waste toner discharge port 10f2 is surrounded and closed in the discharge cylinder 10e.

Further, the shutter 10f extends from the protruding wall 10c2 to the end wall 10c1 in a completely hollow cylindrical shape.
It is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on 10c1. The toner conveying screw 9 is provided in the shutter 10f.
The screw blade 9d2 of d has entered (see FIG. 1). Also,
A shutter release lever 10g is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the shutter 10f between the end wall 10c1 and the protruding wall 10c2 so that the shutter release lever 10g is located below the gap 10h as shown in FIG. It is installed in. A lever 16 provided on the holding member 15 on the apparatus main body side is provided in the gap 10h.
Enters and pushes down the shutter release lever 10g, the shutter 10f rotates against the biasing force, and the waste toner discharge port 10f2 is opened. It should be noted that the holding member 15 is the discharge cylinder 10 which is a portion for discharging the waste toner from the cleaning means.
for holding the waste toner storage box 11 in e,
The image forming apparatus main body side is supported rotatably about a support shaft 15a.

(Attachment of Waste Toner Storage Box) Therefore, the waste toner storage box 11 can be attached to the process cartridge B by aligning the attachment surface 11b2 of the waste toner storage box 11 with the guide portion 10d1 formed integrally with the handle 10d. After mounting, then rotating the holding member 15 to the holding position
The shutter 10f in 10e rotates to open the waste toner discharge port 10f2 in the waste toner storage box 11, and at the same time, the holding member.
Held by 15. As a result, the waste toner storage box 11
Does not accidentally come off from the process cartridge B, and toner scattering is prevented.

The waste toner storage box 11 is detached from the process cartridge B, and is mounted as described above after the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body. When the waste toner storage box 11 is filled with waste toner, it is removed and replaced.

By the way, in the main body of the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a prevention member 21 is provided that is composed of two arms 21a and 21b that rotate about a support shaft 21c. The prevention member 21 is biased in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 20 by a biasing means (not shown) such as a torsion spring. When the waste toner storage box 11 is not mounted, one arm 21a is provided.
Keeps the other arm 21b standing vertically.

Therefore, when the waste toner storage box 11 is not mounted, the arms 21a and 21b of the prevention member 21 are kept in the above-described state, and the holding member 15 is used to support the support shaft 15a in this state.
20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 20 to close it, the wall surface 15b of the holding member 15 is blocked by the prevention member 21.
Since it abuts on the tip of the arm 21b that stands upright,
It is impossible to close the holding member 15.

However, as described above, the waste toner storage box 11
20 is mounted as shown in FIG. 20, one arm 21a of the prevention member 21 comes into contact with the end portion (shoulder portion) 11b3 of the waste toner receiving portion 11b of the waste toner storage box 11 and rotates in the direction of arrow c in FIG. Therefore, the other arm 21b also integrally rotates in the same direction and retracts. Therefore, when the waste toner storage box 11 is mounted, interference with the arm 21b of the holding member 15 can be avoided and the holding member 15 can be closed completely.

(Protective Cover) The protective cover 12 protects the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 7 in the cartridge as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is detachably supported by the process cartridge B. . That is, the protective cover 12
Is a guide rail 12 provided in the longitudinal direction of the upper edge of the guide rail 12.
Guide grooves 10 in which a and 12b are formed in the cartridge frame 10
It is supported so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) along i and 10j. As a result, the process cartridge B is guided along the guide rails 12a and 12b of the protective cover 12.
Can be slid in the longitudinal direction, and can be smoothly and easily mounted in the apparatus body. Further, the cartridge B can be inserted while the uncovered portion of the photoconductor drum 7 is always covered by the protective cover 12, and at the same time, the protective cover 12 can be taken out in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a lock portion 12a1 is provided on a part of the guide rail 12a of the protective cover 12, and the lock frame 12a1 is provided at the same position as the lock portion 12a1. Is provided with an elastic lock lever 10k. The two are engaged with each other with the protective cover 12 completely protecting the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B. When the cartridge is mounted, the process cartridge B is slid into the main body of the apparatus along the guide rails 12a and 12b of the protective cover 12, so that the elastic lock lever 10k is guided by the guide rail 12a of the protective cover 12 to the cartridge frame. body
It is pushed into the inside of 10 and the above engagement is released. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the protective cover 12 from being detached from the cartridge B when it is not mounted, and to prevent the photosensitive drum 7 from being damaged, and at the same time, the engagement between the protective cover 12 and the cartridge B is easily released by the cartridge mounting operation. Therefore, operability is not impaired.

Further, the protection cover 12 is integrally formed with legs 12c which can be placed on a desk or the like so that the process cartridge B before being mounted on the apparatus main body can be stably stored. Has become.

A fitting convex portion 12d is formed integrally with one end of the protective cover 12 in the longitudinal direction (tip in the cartridge insertion direction) so as to be fitted with a fitting concave portion (not shown) on the apparatus main body side. ing. The fitting recess (not shown) on the apparatus body side has an inner shape that fits with the outer shape of the fitting projection 12d, and has a sufficient length to support the protective cover 12 when the cartridge is mounted. It is installed on the front side plate of the device body. As a result, the protective cover 12 is easily fixed at an accurate position on the apparatus main body, and the process cartridge B can be smoothly inserted into the image forming apparatus main body.

With the protective cover 12 having the above structure, the protective cover 12 can be easily removed only by the operation of mounting the process cartridge B in the main body of the apparatus, and the photosensitive drum 7 can be removed.
Since there is no risk of carelessly touching or scratching the surface of the, the operability is good and a good image can be provided.

(Mounting of Cartridge) The process cartridge B to which the protective cover 12 as described above is mounted is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus by the procedure shown in FIGS. 23 to 27. First, as shown in FIG. 23, after opening the opening / closing cover 18 on the front surface of the apparatus main body, the holding member 15 is moved to the retracted position to open the cartridge insertion port 22. The protective cover 12 is inserted into the fitting recess 23 provided at the edge of the cartridge insertion opening 22.
The fitting convex portion 12d of (1) is fitted (see FIG. 24), and the guide rails 12a, 12b of the protective cover 12 fixed by this fitting are fixed.
The process cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body along the line (see FIG. 25). At this time, the lock portion 12a1 of the protective cover 12
And the lock lever 10k on the cartridge side are released, and the guide protrusion 10m provided on the upper part of the cartridge frame 10 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 24 provided in the main body of the apparatus ( (See Figure 26). Therefore, the process cartridge B inserted into the apparatus body is guided to the apparatus body by being guided by the guide rails 12a and 12b of the protective cover 12 and the guide rail 24 in the apparatus body as shown in FIG.

Then, when the process cartridge B is further inserted, the positioning pin 25c and the positioning hole 25d on the cartridge side are fitted into the positioning hole and the positioning pin (not shown) on the apparatus main body side, and at the same time, the lock claw on the cartridge side.
10d2 engages with the engaging portion 17 on the apparatus main body side to position and mount the process cartridge B. The protective cover 12 can be removed from the process cartridge B by leaving the process cartridge B in the apparatus main body by inserting it into the apparatus main body. Then, as described above, by mounting the waste toner storage box 11 on the side surface of the process cartridge B, the image formation can be started.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiments, the squi sheet 9 sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 7 and the seal member 9e.
In order to reduce the area of both end portions 9b3 of b, as shown in FIG. 12, a configuration in which both end portions 9b3 of the squeeze sheet 9b are obliquely cut is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 28, both ends 9b3 of the squi sheet 9b may be cut out at a portion overlapping with the seal member 9e. This also reduces the area of the squi sheet 9b that is pulled with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7, so that the squeeze sheet 9b can be prevented from waving and toner leakage due to this waving can be prevented. Further, at both end portions 9b3 of the squishy sheet 9b, the root portion 9b2 is more sealed than the tip portion 9b1.
Since there is a sufficient amount of overlapping with the toner, toner does not leak from the overlapping portion of the squi sheet 9b and the seal member 9e.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the protective cover 12 is attached to the process cartridge B by the engagement of the lock portion 12a1 provided on the guide rail 12a of the protective cover 12 and the lock lever 10k provided on the cartridge frame 10. Stop,
Although the lock is configured to be released by the cartridge mounting operation, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the protection cover 12 is in the same position as the lock lever 10k of the cartridge frame 10. An elastic engagement release lever 12e for pushing the lock lever 10k into the cartridge frame 10 may be integrally provided in a part thereof. According to this configuration, when the cartridge B is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the lock release lever 12e is simply pushed as shown in FIG.
Is disengaged from the lock portion 12a1 of the protective cover 12, and the cartridge B can be freely moved on the guide rail 12a.

Further, by disposing the engagement release lever 12e on the leading end side in the cartridge insertion direction with respect to the center of the protective cover 12 as shown in FIG. 1, the user pushes the engagement release lever 12e with one hand and the other hand. Since the cartridge B can be inserted by hand, the mounting of the cartridge becomes easier.

The process cartridge B according to the present invention described above is provided with a plurality of cartridges for forming a single color image or a plurality of developing means to form a plurality of color images (for example, a two color image, a three color image or a full color image). The present invention can also be suitably applied to a cartridge.

As the developing method, various known developing methods such as a two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down 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 tungsten wire which has been conventionally used as another constitution is provided with a metal shield 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.

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
It is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of process means. Therefore, as the mode of the process cartridge, in addition to the embodiment described above, for example, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging unit are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. A cartridge in which the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means are integrally formed so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. The electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning means are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. Further, there is one in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member 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 cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the color image forming apparatus is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an image forming apparatus for recording a monochromatic image is also suitable. Can be applied.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the laser beam printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine or a word processor is possible. Of course, it can also be used in a device.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A film member is provided on the downstream side of the charging means supported by the cartridge frame in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, so that the film means is provided so as to cover the charging means. Is scattered,
Since the developer is blocked by the film member, it does not adhere to the charging means. Further, since a sufficient gap (a gap between the cartridge frame and the developing means) through which the image light applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member passes is secured, it is possible to prevent the image light from being blocked by vibration of the cartridge or the like. be able to.

Further, by forming the film member longer than the length of the charging means in the longitudinal direction and longer than the irradiation region of the image light with which the electrophotographic photosensitive member is irradiated in the main scanning direction, the image light can be more reliably generated. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration cross-sectional view of a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration perspective view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a contact area of each member that acts by contacting an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a photosensitive drum and a charging roller.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a tip shaft of the photosensitive drum and a drive shaft portion on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view of a cartridge frame.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of the cartridge showing the falling direction of the raised hair of the seal member.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship among an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, and a seal member.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the shape of a squi sheet in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a connecting portion between a drive receiving portion of a photosensitive drum and a conveying screw and a drive shaft of a drive mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cartridge showing an arrangement relationship between a conveying screw and a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view showing the relationship between the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cover member in the process cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge and the developing unit showing the arrangement of film members.

FIG. 17 is a schematic side view showing an arrangement state of film members in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a mounting guide portion of the waste toner storage box.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a cartridge lock mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a relationship among a cartridge, a waste toner storage box, and a holding member.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of an engaging portion between a protective cover and a cartridge.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a protective cover.

FIG. 23 is a schematic explanatory view showing a mounted state of a process cartridge.

FIG. 24 is a schematic explanatory view showing a mounted state of a process cartridge.

FIG. 25 is a schematic explanatory view showing a mounted state of a process cartridge.

FIG. 26 is a schematic explanatory view showing a mounted state of a process cartridge.

FIG. 27 is a schematic explanatory view showing a mounted state of a process cartridge.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view showing another shape of the squi sheet in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a protective cover.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of an engagement release lever in the protective cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Color image forming apparatus B ... Process cartridge
P ... Recording medium 1 ... Conveying means 1a ... Feed cassette 1
b ... Pickup roller 1c ... Paper feed roller 1d, 1h ... Guide plate 1e ... Transfer roller 1f ... Register roller pair 1g ... Separation member 1i ... Discharge roller pair
2 ... Transfer means 2a ... Transfer drum 2b ... Shaft 2c ... Gripper 2d ... Electrostatic attraction roller 2e ... Transfer charger 3
... Scanner section 3a ... Laser diode 3b ... Polygon mirror 3c ... Imaging lens 3d ... Reflection mirror 3
e ... laser light 3f ... irradiation range 4 ... development unit
4M, 4C, 4Y, 4B ... Developing means 4a ... Rotating shaft 4
b ... toner container 4c ... application roller 4d ... developing roller 4e ... developing blade 4f ... toner cartridge 4g ... spacing holding member 4h ... toner 5
... Fixing means 5a ... Drive roller 5b ... Fixing roller 5
c ... Cleaning member 6 ... Ejection section 7 ... Photosensitive drum 7a ... Aluminum cylinder 7a1 ... Contact area (contact peripheral surface) 7a2 ... Length 7a3 ... Non-photosensitive layer area 7b ... Photosensitive layer 7b1 ... Photosensitive layer area 7b2, 7b3 … Abutting area 7b4…
Photosensitive layer uneven region 7c ... Photoconductor supporting shaft 7d ... Broken shafts 7e, 7f ... Drum flange 8 ... Primary charging means 8a ... Shaft 8b ... Contact plate 9 ... Cleaning means 9a ... Elastic cleaning blade 9
b, 9b '... Squeeze sheet 9b1 ... Tip part 9b2 ... Root part 9b3 ... Both ends 9c ... Stirring member 9d ... Toner conveying screw 9d1 ... Screw shaft 9d2 ... Screw blade 9
d3 ... Projection 9e ... Seal member 10 ... Cartridge frame
10a ... Arc-shaped rib 10b ... Bearing rib 10c1 ... End wall 10
c2 ... Projection wall 10c3 ... Peripheral wall 10d ... Handle 10d1 ... Guide part 10d2 ... Lock claw 10e ... Discharge tube 10e1 ... Opening 10e2 ... Projection edge 10f
... Shutter 10f1 ... Waste toner drop prevention wall 10f2 ... Waste toner discharge port 10g ... Shutter release lever 10h ... Gap 10
i, 10j ... Guide groove 10k ... Lock lever 10m ... Guide protrusion 11 ... Waste toner storage box 11a ... Waste toner storage section
11b ... Waste toner receiving section 11b1 ... Waste toner drop port 11b2 ...
Mounting surface 11b3 ... End (shoulder) 12 ... Protective covers 12a, 12b ... Guide rail 12a1 ... Lock 12c ... Leg 12d ... Fitting convex 12e ... Engagement release lever 13 ... Seal member 14a ... Screw drive gear 14b ... Stirring member drive gear
14c ... Idler gear 15 ... Holding member 15a ... Spindle 15b
… Wall 16… Lever 17… Engagement part 18… Open / close cover 18
a ... Shaft 18b ... Handle 19 ... Feeding unit 19a ... Rail
19b ... Handle 19c ... Positioning axis 20 ... Printer body
20a ... Guide 21 ... Prevention member 21a, 21b ... Arm 21
c ... Spindle 22 ... Cartridge insertion port 23 ... Fitting recess 24
... Guide rails 25a, 25b ... Cover member 25c ... Positioning pin 25d ... Positioning hole 26 ... Bearing member 27 ... Film member 28a, 28c ... Drive shaft 28b ... Drive frame

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which supports an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging unit. And a cartridge frame, wherein a film member is provided on the downstream side of the charging means supported by the cartridge frame in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member so as to cover the charging means. 2. The film member is formed to be longer than the length of the charging means in the longitudinal direction and longer than the irradiation area of the image light with which the electrophotographic photosensitive member is irradiated in the main scanning direction. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 3. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means as the process means, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is removable. 4. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the process cartridge is provided to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is removable. 5. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least a charging unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 1. The process cartridge according to 1. 6. A process cartridge is detachable,
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cartridge frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging unit. Mounting means for mounting a process cartridge having a film member so as to cover the charging means, on the downstream side of the charging means supported by the cartridge frame in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive body; An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit for transferring the image formed on the recording medium to a recording medium; and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 7. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, or a facsimile machine.