JPH09197945A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from forgetting to pull out the toner seal of a cartridge, and also to detect a failure in taking up the toner seal at the worst and to inform the user of the effect, as for the device provided with an automatic toner seal take-up means. SOLUTION: Parts to be detected by transparent holes 12d and 13a etc., are partly installed on the toner seal holding part of the process cartridge B. A projecting part 20 is installed on the image forming device main body 15 side, then, when the toner seal exists, the process cartridge B is loaded in only halfway. In the other way, a photoelectric toner seal detecting means is installed, and when the cartridge where the seal is not pulled out yet is loaded, the information is given to the user.

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, as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, L
ED printers, laser beam printers, etc.), electrophotographic facsimile machines, and electrophotographic word processors.

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

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the prior art described below, and provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of detecting whether or not the seal member is unsealed. With the goal.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems A first invention of the present invention is:
In a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit is a developer that applies a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A carrier, a developer container that stores the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier, and a developer container that stores the developer until the process cartridge is used. Separate the
A seal member that is removed upon starting use of the process cartridge, and if the seal member is not removed, a seal member detection unit that is detected by the seal member detection unit included in the image forming apparatus main body is provided. It is a characteristic process cartridge.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the means to be detected is a through hole or a notch which is closed by the seal member when the seal member is not removed. The process cartridge according to the invention.

A third aspect of the present invention is the process cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the detected means is a difference in light reflectance between the seal member and the frame of the process cartridge. is there.

A fourth invention of the present invention is the process cartridge according to the first invention, characterized in that it has a seal member winding means for winding the seal member by driving from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the process cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the seal member has a colored portion in a part thereof.

A sixth invention of the present invention is the process cartridge according to the first invention, wherein a part of the sealing member has a different light reflectance.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge comprises a charging means, or a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention is detachable.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, at least one of charging means and cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge in the process cartridge, and the process cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to the first invention.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a process cartridge is detachable, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing means has a developer carrier for applying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container for storing the developer supplied to the developer carrier, and a process cartridge until the start of use. The developer container that stores the developer is separated from the developer carrier and the developer container, and has a seal member that is removed at the start of use of the process cartridge, and if the seal member is not removed, A mounting hand for removably mounting the process cartridge having the seal member detection means detected by the seal member detection means of the image forming apparatus main body. And a transport member for transporting the recording medium, and a seal member detection unit that acts on the seal member detection unit of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit to detect the presence or absence of the seal member. And an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the seal member detecting means is a protrusion that abuts the seal member when the process cartridge is inserted when the seal member is not removed. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in 1.

The eleventh invention of the present invention is the ninth invention, characterized in that the seal member detecting means is an optical detecting means for detecting the seal member when the seal member is not removed. Is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0016]

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 this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system detachable from the main body is employed. 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
Widely used in image forming apparatuses.

The process cartridge includes a developer carrier for applying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier, and the developer carrier and the developer before use. A seal member that separates the developer container and seals the developer in the developer container is provided. The seal member is manually or automatically removed when the process cartridge is used.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A typical embodiment of the present invention has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing device that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. In another process cartridge, the developing device includes a developing sleeve for applying the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer container for storing the developer to be supplied to the developing sleeve, and a developing container until the use of the process cartridge is started. A developer container storing a developer, a developing sleeve and a developer container are separated from each other, and a seal member is removed at the start of use of the process cartridge; and when the seal member is not removed, an image forming apparatus A process cartridge characterized in that it has a seal member detection means that is detected by a seal member detection means included in the main body.

Further, the above process cartridge can be attached and detached to form an image on a recording sheet, the recording sheet conveying means is provided with a roller and a guide, and the presence or absence of a seal member is detected by the seal member detection means of the process cartridge. The image forming apparatus includes a seal member detecting unit for detecting.

The means to be detected by the sealing member may be a through hole or a notch closed by the sealing member, or the reflectance of light between the sealing member and the frame of the process cartridge, or coloring provided on a part of the sealing member. There is a mode in which a part or a part of the seal member has a part having a different light reflectance.

The above-mentioned seal member detecting means is such that there is no light reflected by the seal member or no light emitted from a projection provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus which hits the seal member or a portion where the seal member is present. There is a mode in which a member for receiving the light transmitted through is provided.

Detailed Description of Embodiments Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment A) A process cartridge according to an embodiment B of the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings.

{Overall Description of Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus Equipped with It} First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described. 1. FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration explanatory view of a laser printer equipped with a process cartridge which is one mode of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a sectional configuration explanatory view of the process cartridge.

This image forming apparatus A is, as shown in FIG.
A light image based on image information is emitted from the optical system 1 to form a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) image on the photosensitive drum 7 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Then, the recording material 2 is conveyed by the conveying means 3 in synchronism with the formation of the toner image, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming portion formed as a process cartridge B is transferred to the transfer means 4.
The recording material 2 is transferred to the recording material 2 by means of, and the recording material 2 is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to the discharging portion 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section rotates the photosensitive drum 7 to uniformly charge the surface thereof by the charging means 8 to form an optical image from the optical system. The photosensitive drum 7 is exposed through the exposure unit 9 to form a latent image, and the developing unit 10 forms a toner image corresponding to the latent image to form a visible image. After the transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording material 2, the cleaning unit 11 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7.

The process cartridge B has a toner frame 12 which is a first frame having a toner reservoir and the like, and a developing frame 13 which is a second frame having a developing sleeve 10a and the like.
And a cleaning frame 14 which is a third frame having the photosensitive drum 7 and the cleaning means 11 and the like.

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

[Image Forming Apparatus] First, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A will be described.

(Optical System) The optical system 1 irradiates a light beam to the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating light on the basis of image information read from an external device or the like, and as shown in FIG. A laser diode (not shown) in the optical unit 1a, a polygon mirror 1b, and a motor 1
c, an imaging lens 1d, and a reflection mirror 1e are stored.

When an image signal is given from an external device or the like, the laser diode emits light according to the image signal and illuminates the polygon mirror b as the image light. The polygon mirror 1b is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor 1c, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1b irradiates the photosensitive drum 7 through the imaging lens 1d and the reflection mirror 1e, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is selectively selected. It is configured to be exposed to.

(Recording Material Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording material 2 will be described. The recording material 2 according to the present embodiment can be of two types: a hand and a cassette paper feed. The structure for giving a hand is
As shown in FIG. 1, when the recording material 2 is set in the paper feed tray 3a and image formation is started, the pickup roller 3b
The recording material 2 on the paper feed tray 3a is fed into the apparatus by means of the separating roller pair 3c1 and 3c2, and the recording material 2 is separately fed one by one so that the leading end of the recording material 2 abuts on the registration roller pair 3d1 and 3d2. Transport. Then, the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2 are driven and rotated according to the image forming operation to convey the recording material 2 to the image forming portion. Further, the recording material 2 after image formation is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and the intermediate discharge roller 3e and the discharge roller pair 3f1,
It is configured to discharge to the discharge unit 6 by 3f2. A guide member 3g for guiding the conveyance of the recording material 2 is provided between the rollers.

The paper feed tray 3a comprises an inner member 3a1 and an outer member 3a2, which are housed in the inner member 3a1 and the outer member 3a2 when not in use, and the outer member 3a2 forms the exterior of the image forming apparatus main body 15. Is configured.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the cassette feeding structure is such that the cassette 3h is provided on the inner bottom of the apparatus main body 15.
When the recording material 2 is not fed by hand, the recording material 2 in the cassette 3h loaded in the loading portion is picked up one by one from the top by the pickup roller 3i and the feeding roller 3j. It is configured to feed to the pair 3d1 and 3d2. And registration roller pair 3d
After 1, 3d2, it is configured to be conveyed by the same member as in the case of the hand.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 4 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming portion to the recording material 2. The transfer means 4 of the present embodiment is as shown in FIG. In addition, it is composed of a transfer roller. That is, the recording medium 2 is configured to be pressed by the transfer means 4 against the photosensitive drum 7 of the loaded process cartridge B, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the transfer means 4. Thus, the toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording material 2.

(Fixing Means) Next, the fixing means 5 is for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material 2 by the voltage application of the transfer means 4, and as shown in FIG. 1, the driving roller 5a is driven to rotate. And a fixing roller 5b which has a heat generating member inside and is driven to rotate by being pressed against the driving roller 5a. That is, when the recording material 2 onto which the toner image has been transferred by the image forming unit passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5b, pressure is applied by pressing both rollers 5a and 5b, and the fixing roller 5b is pressed. It is configured to apply heat by heat generation. As a result, the toner transferred to the recording material 2 is fixed.

(Process Cartridge Mounting Unit) When the opening / closing member 15a is opened, the cartridge mounting unit has a cartridge mounting space as shown in FIG. 12, and the cartridge mounting unit is mounted on the left and right inner side surfaces of the image forming apparatus main body 15. A guide portion 35 is provided. This left and right guide part 3
5, a first guide rail 35a and a second guide rail 35b for inserting the process cartridge B are provided so as to face each other. On the other hand, on both outer side surfaces of the process cartridge B, projecting outward from the rotation center position of the photosensitive drum 7,
A columnar protrusion 35c having substantially the same radius as the groove 35a1 provided at the end of the first guide rail 35a is provided, and a guide protrusion 35d is provided continuously to the columnar protrusion 35c. Further, an engaging portion 35e is provided on the lower front side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B.

When the process cartridge B is mounted, the cylindrical protrusion 35c of the process cartridge B is attached.
The guide ridges 35d are guided by the first guide rails 35a, and the engaging portions 35e are guided by the second guide rails 35b.
The process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus A by inserting the process cartridge B in the state of being guided by the above and closing the opening / closing member 15a.

{Process Cartridge} Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B mounted in the image forming apparatus A will be described. The process cartridge mentioned here includes at least a developing unit 10 as a process unit that acts on the photosensitive drum 7 provided as an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, in addition to the developing means 10, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging roller provided as a charging means for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member are removed. A process cartridge B integrally formed with a cleaning means for performing the above will be described with reference to FIG.

Process cartridge B of this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 2, a developing unit 10 that visualizes a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by a charging unit 8, an exposing unit 9, and toner around the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
Further, the cleaning means 11 is arranged, and these are covered with a housing composed of the toner frame body 12, the developing frame body 13 and the cleaning frame body 14 so as to be integrated with each other, and are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15.

The photosensitive drum 7 according to the present embodiment is constructed by coating an organic photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a drum base made of cylindrical aluminum. Then, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotatably attached to the cleaning frame 14, and the driving force of a drive motor (not shown) is transmitted to a flange gear (not shown) fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction. The drum 7 is configured to rotate in the arrow direction in FIG. 1 according to the image forming operation.

An alternating voltage is applied to the charging roller 8a which constitutes the charging means 8 for charging the photosensitive drum 7, and the charging roller 8a comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and is driven to rotate. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged.

The exposure section 9 is an opening formed by the developing frame body 13 and the cleaning frame body 14 for allowing the image information from the optical system 1 to reach the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.

The developing means 10 contains a toner (not shown) therein to form a toner container, which is a toner frame 12.
And a developing frame 13 that rotatably supports the developing sleeve 10a as a developer carrying member. Developing sleeve 10
A toner layer thickness regulating member 10b made of rubber or the like is in contact with a, so that the toner adhering to the surface of the developing sleeve 10a is adjusted to a substantially uniform layer thickness, and the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing sleeve 10a face each other. And send it to the developing area. still,
A developing sleeve gear (not shown) that meshes with a flange gear provided at one end of the photosensitive drum 7 is provided at one longitudinal end of the developing sleeve 10a, and the developing sleeve 10a is driven counterclockwise by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7. To be done. The toner agitating member 10c for agitating the toner in the toner container and sending the toner to the developing sleeve 10a side is connected to the photosensitive drum 7 by a gear train (not shown) and rotates clockwise with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7.

An antenna 10d is arranged in parallel with the developing sleeve 10a, and when the process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15, the antenna 10d is provided.
d is connected to a toner detection circuit provided in the image forming apparatus main body 15. The toner detection circuit detects a change in electrostatic capacitance due to the presence / absence of toner between the antenna 10d and the developing sleeve 10a, and also detects whether or not the process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15. .

The seal member 16 for sealing the toner in the toner container is a member for preventing the toner from scattering during the transportation of the process cartridge B until the user reaches the process cartridge B. It must be removed when it is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 15 to form an image.

In the present embodiment, the seal member 16 is
The toner frame 12 is made of a flexible sheet-like material.
Is fixed to the peripheral edge of the opening by welding or the like.

The seal member 16 will be described in detail later.

The drum shutter 17 is provided when the process cartridge B is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15.
It prevents the user from touching the photosensitive drum 7 or scratching the photosensitive drum 7 by mistake.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning frame 1 is movable between a shielding position that shields the facing portion of the photosensitive drum 7 to the transfer unit 4 and the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 by a link mechanism or the like (not shown).
It is supported at the longitudinal ends of the four.

The cleaning means 11 is made of rubber or the like, and contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.
Cleaning blade 11a for scraping off the residual toner on the surface
And a waste toner container 1 for containing scraped off toner
1b etc.

Here, the above-mentioned seal member 16 and its periphery will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the opening 12 a of the toner frame 12 is sealed by the seal member 16. The seal member 16 has a length that is at least twice as long as the longitudinal dimension of the opening 12a, and about half of it is detachably fixed to the peripheral edge 12b of the opening 12a by means such as welding. The unwelded portion of the seal member 16 is located near one end of the peripheral edge portion 12b, and the folded portion 1 is provided.
The folded surface 6b is folded back at the portion 6a and overlapped with the portion where the opening 12a is sealed, and the folded surface 16b extends outward from the longitudinal one end 12c of the toner frame 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the end portion of the folding surface 16b has an outlet 12
It goes out of the process cartridge B from f. The seal member 16 is surrounded on three sides of the peripheral edge portion 12b of the opening 12a by a corner edge having a step surface 12e higher than the thickness of the seal member 16. The corner edge is formed integrally with the toner frame 12.

With the seal member 16 folded and set in this manner, the developing frame body 13 is welded to the generally U-shaped stepped surface 12e of the toner frame body 12. The portion of the developing frame 13 facing the toner frame 12 is a flat surface and has an opening 12a.
And an opening 13d communicating with. Toner frame 12
The sealing member 16 is held in the gap between the toner frame 12 and the developing frame 13 by welding the developing frame 13 to each other.
It should be noted that through holes 12d and 13a are provided on the surfaces of the toner frame body 12 and the developing frame body 13 that hold the respective seal members 16 so as to coincide with each other while the toner frame body 12 and the developing frame body 13 are welded. . The positions of the through holes 12d and 13a are between the outlet 16c and the openings 12a and 13d.
Further, the developing frame body 13 is provided with an elastic member 28 made of foaming urethane or the like between the opening 13d and the through hole 13a. When the developing frame body 13 and the toner frame body 12 are welded, the elastic frame body 28 is welded. Is pressed against the sealing member 16 to be compressed, and the peripheral edge portion 1 of the opening 12 a of the toner frame 12 is compressed.
2b It is brought into close contact with the seal holding surface on the side of pulling out the seal.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the seal member 16 is shown in a non-pulled state, and is held by the toner frame 12 and the developing frame 13 as described above. Before mounting the process cartridge B on the image forming apparatus main body 15, the user first grasps one end of the seal member 16 and pulls it in the arrow Z direction. Then, the above-mentioned seal member 16 and toner frame 1
While the welded portion 2 gradually peels from the left side in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 4 (the folded portion 16a side in FIG. 3), the seal member 16 comes out to the right side (arrow Z direction) in FIG. 4 and finally from the process cartridge B. Completely pulled out. At this time, the elastic member 28 (see FIG. 3) described above has the function of removing the toner adhering to the seal member 16 from the seal member 16 as much as possible when the seal member 16 passes, and the seal member 16 after removing the seal member 16 as much as possible. It has the function of preventing the toner from leaking out from the gap holding 16. As described above, by pulling out the seal member 16, the opening 12a of the toner frame 12 and the opening 13d of the developing frame 13 are communicated with each other, and the toner in the toner frame 12 has these openings 12a, 13a.
It moves to the developing device frame 13 through d.

In FIG. 4, the through holes 13a and 12d are closed by the seal member 16. Sealing member 16
After removing, the through holes 13a and 12d communicate with each other. Further, the projecting portions 13b and 13c provided at the ends of the developing frame body 13 in the pull-out direction of the seal member 16 are columnar projections 35c which serve as guides when the process cartridge B is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 15. It may be attached to the guide ridge 35d, or may be separately provided in the housing of the process cartridge B.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the process cartridge B shown in FIG. 4 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 15. still,
For convenience of explanation, the process cartridge B is shown by the YY cross section in FIG. 4, and the schematic shape of the process cartridge B (on the front side of the paper in FIG. 5) is shown by the two-dot chain line. In FIG. 5, the process cartridge B has protrusions 13 b and 13 c, which are guides provided in the process cartridge B, between guide surfaces 18 and 19 provided on the inner side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 15. It is inserted in the direction of arrow C while sliding. Here, the image forming apparatus main body 15
The side is provided with a protrusion 20 that is generally parallel to the insertion direction and faces the opposite direction, and penetrates the through holes 12d and 13a in the mounted state shown in FIG. if,
When the user forgets to unseal the seal member 16 and inserts it into the image forming apparatus main body 15, the protrusion 20 abuts on the seal member 16 in the process cartridge B, so that the process cartridge B is mounted to the proper position. Therefore, it can be detected that the user has not pulled out the seal member 16.

(Embodiment B) FIG. 6 shows a process cartridge according to an embodiment B of the present invention. The process cartridge D has the same structure as that of the process cartridge B shown in the embodiment A, except that the protrusion 13
b and 13c are not provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus main body 21 includes an upper frame 2 pivotally attached by a hinge 24.
1A is provided with an optical unit 1a, and a guide unit D1 is provided below the optical unit 1a to which the process cartridge D can be attached and detached in the vertical direction or the longitudinal direction. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the process cartridge D of FIG. 6 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 21 by a solid line. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 22 and 23 respectively denote a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the photo interrupter provided in the image forming apparatus main body 21. In the embodiment B, by inserting the process cartridge D into the upper frame 21A that is rotatably supported by the hinge 24 at the upper end of the image forming apparatus main body 21, and then closing the upper frame 21A,
The process cartridge D is positioned at the normal operating position. However, if the seal member 16 in the process cartridge D is not pulled out at that time, the light from the light emitting portion 22 is blocked by the seal member 16 and does not reach the light receiving portion 23. Therefore, the light passes through the photo interrupter of the image forming apparatus main body 21. The detection circuit detects that the seal member 16 has not been removed, and indicates, for example, that the seal member 16 has not been pulled on a display unit (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 21. Can be informed.

Further, in this embodiment B, by using a coloring material such as black for the seal member 16,
It is possible to more reliably detect the case where the seal member 16 is not pulled out.

(Embodiment C) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment C according to the present invention. In FIG. 8, in the process cartridge E, the developing frame body 13 is provided with a through hole 13a, and the toner frame body 12 is not provided with a through hole in a portion facing the through hole 13a. In addition, the image forming apparatus main body 2
1 is provided with a light emitting unit 25 and a light receiving unit 26 of a reflection type photo interrupter. The light receiving unit 26 detects the light reflected from the light emitting unit 25 and returns, and a detection circuit communicating with the photo interrupter is provided. The presence or absence of the seal member 16 is detected. That is, the presence / absence of the seal member 16 is detected by checking the difference in light reflectance between the seal member 16 and the toner frame 12, and a display (not shown) indicates that the seal member 16 has not been pulled out. Can be informed.

In this embodiment, the seal member 16 is made of a material having metallic luster, or a seal having metallic luster is attached to the reflection surface of the toner frame 12. The detection when the seal member 16 is not pulled out can be performed more reliably.

(Embodiment D) FIG. 9 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a process cartridge having a winding mechanism for the seal member 16. In FIG. 9, the process cartridge F has a winding mechanism 27 for winding the seal member 16 after being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 21. The winding mechanism 27 includes a gear 27a driven by the image forming apparatus main body 21, a winding shaft 27b around which the seal member 16 is wound, and the like, and is rotatably supported at one end of the process cartridge F. The gear 27a and the winding shaft 27b are integrated so as to rotate together. The tip of the folded surface 16b (see FIG. 3) of the seal member 16 is fixed to the winding shaft 27b.
The detected portion of the seal member 16 is exposed through the through hole 13a of the developing frame 13 when it is not wound up.

Process cartridge F of the present embodiment D
When the user attaches the (new) to the image forming apparatus main body 21, the seal member 16 is detected on the image forming apparatus main body 21 side by the seal member presence / absence detecting means as described in the above-mentioned Embodiment B or Embodiment C. It is detected that the process cartridge F which has not been opened is attached. When the detection means detects the seal member 16, the image forming apparatus main body 21 causes the process cartridge F take-up mechanism 27.
The drive system for rotating is driven. The seal member presence / absence detection unit continues to detect the presence / absence of the seal member 16 at a predetermined timing even while the drive system is being driven, and when the presence of the seal member 16 is detected, the drive is further continued.

When the seal member 16 is detected by the seal member presence / absence detecting means that the seal member 16 is substantially wound around the winding shaft 27b and the seal member 16 has left the through hole 13a, the drive system is stopped. The drive system for driving the winding mechanism 27 has the same drive source as the drive system for image formation, and the clutch is provided in the preceding stage for transmitting the drive to the seal member winding mechanism 27 provided in the process cartridge F. A mechanism may be provided and the seal member 16 may be wound and stopped by controlling the clutch.

When the seal member 16 cannot be taken up due to a mounting error of the process cartridge F, a trouble of the take-up mechanism 27, or the like, the calculated value n of the counter shown in FIG. 10 is n> a. When (a is a value set in advance so as to correspond to a sufficient time for winding the seal member), the seal winding drive is turned off,
The indication that the sticker is not wound up is displayed on the display means of the device body.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart collectively showing the above operations. In FIG. 10, when the process cartridge F is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 21 in step S1, the counter for detecting the winding time of the winding mechanism 27 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 21 is reset in step S2. In step S3, the seal member 16 is the through hole 1
3a is detected, and the seal member 16
If the through hole 13a is blocked, the process proceeds to step S4, the gear 27a is driven from the image forming apparatus main body 21, and the winding shaft 27b winds the seal member 16. In step S5, the winding time n is accumulated, and in step S6, the time a required to open the predetermined seal member 16 is compared with the count time n, and the time n counted to the time a is compared.
Is reached, the presence or absence of the seal member 16 is detected in step S7. If the seal member 16 is present, the process returns to step S4 to continue winding. If there is no seal member 16, the seal member 16 is wound in step S8. The take-off drive is turned off. Then, in step S9, the print preparation is completed.

In the above, if it is detected in step S3 that the seal member 16 is absent in the case of the re-installed process cartridge F, the process proceeds to step S9.

If the winding time n of the seal member 16 is n> a in step S6, the process advances to step S10 to turn off the seal winding drive, and in step S11, the seal winding failure is displayed.

(Embodiment C) FIG. 11 shows another embodiment E in which the present invention is applied to a process cartridge having a seal member winding mechanism. For convenience of explanation, the toner frame 12, the seal member 16, and the winding mechanism 27 are shown, and the developing frame 13 is shown only a part thereof.

The seal member 16 has a detection portion 1 at the terminal end thereof, which has a different light reflectance (or light transmittance) from the other portions.
6c, the sensor on the image forming apparatus main body 21 side can detect the completion of winding of the seal member 16 when the detection portion 16c faces the through hole 13a as the detected portion. That is, in the process cartridge F having the winding mechanism 27, it is not necessary to peel off the seal member 16 over the entire area, and even if the winding is ended when the opening 12a is opened, there is no functional problem. Absent.

Therefore, immediately after the opening 12a is opened, the detection portion 16c of the seal member is so arranged that the portion having a different light reflectance (or light transmittance) faces the through hole 13a of the detected portion. By setting the longitudinal dimension, the time required for winding can be shortened.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since it is directly detected whether or not the seal member is removed, it is possible to surely detect whether or not the process cartridge is usable, and since there is no need for a sensor or the like in the process cartridge, there is almost no increase in cost.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive process cartridge which can inform the user that the seal member has not been removed.

[Brief description of drawings]

 Each of the drawings shows an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment a of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment A of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a process cartridge and a main assembly side guide according to the embodiment a of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment B of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment B of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment C of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment E of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a process cartridge mounting portion of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Image forming apparatus B, D, E, F ... Process cartridge D1 ... Guide means 1 ... Optical system 1a ... Optical unit 1b ... Polygon mirror 1c ... Scanner motor 1d ... Imaging lens 1e
... Reflecting mirror 2 ... Recorded material 3 ... Conveying means 3a ... Paper feed tray 3a1 ... Internal member 3
a2 ... Outer member 3c1, 3c2 ... Separation roller 3d1,
3d2 ... Registration roller 3e ... Intermediate discharge roller 3f
1, 3f2 ... Ejection roller pair 3g ... Guide member 3h ...
Cassette 3i ... Pickup roller 3j ... Feed roller 4 ... Transfer means 5 ... Fixing means 5a ... Drive roller 5b ... Fixing roller 6 ... Ejecting section 7 ... Photosensitive drum 8 ... Charging means 8a ... Charging roller 9 ... Exposure section 10 ... Developing means 10a ... Developing sleeve 10b ... Toner layer thickness regulating member 10c ... Toner stirring member 11 ... Cleaning means 11a ... Cleaning blade 11b ... Waste toner container 12 ... Toner frame 12a ... Opening 12b ... Peripheral part
12c ... Edge 12d ... Through hole 12e ... Step surface 12f
Drawout port 13 Developing frame 13a Through holes 13b, 13c Projection 13d Opening 14 Cleaning frame 15 Image forming apparatus main body 15a Opening / closing member 16 Sealing member 16a Folding portion 16b Folding surface 16c Detecting portion 17 ... Drum shutter 18 ... Guide surface 19 ... Guide surface 20 ... Projection portion 21 ... Image forming apparatus main body 21A ... Upper frame body 22 ... Light emitting portion 23 ... Light receiving portion 24 ... Hinge 25 ... Light emitting portion 26 ... Light receiving portion 27 ... Winding mechanism 27a ... Gear 27b ... Winding shaft 28 ... Elastic member 35 ... Cartridge mounting guide portion 35a ... First guide rail 35a1 ... Groove portion 35b ... Second guide rail
35c ... Cylindrical projection 35d ... Guide ridge 35e ... Engagement part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Kazuaki Odagawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the process cartridge being attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein the developing unit develops on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developer carrier that applies a developer, a developer container that stores the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier, and a developer container that stores the developer until the process cartridge is started to be sealed. A seal member that separates the carrier and the developer container and is removed at the start of use of the process cartridge; if the seal member is not removed, it is detected by a seal member detection unit included in the image forming apparatus main body. A process cartridge having a seal member detection means. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detected means is a through hole or a cutout portion which is closed by the seal member when the seal member is not removed. 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the detected means is a difference in light reflectance between the seal member and the frame of the process cartridge. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a seal member winding unit that winds the seal member by driving from the main body of the image forming apparatus. 5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a part of the sealing member has a colored portion. 6. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a part of the seal member has a portion having a different light reflectance. 7. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, or a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge described in 1. 8. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a charging unit and a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Process cartridge. 9. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge can be attached and detached and which forms an image on a recording medium, comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developer carrier for applying the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer container for storing the developer supplied to the developer carrier, and a developer for storing the developer until the process cartridge is used. A seal member that seals the container to separate the developer carrier from the developer container, and is removed at the start of use of the process cartridge. If the seal member is not removed, the seal included in the main body of the image forming apparatus Mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge having the seal member detected means detected by the member detection means, and the recording medium. And a seal member detection unit that acts on the seal member detection unit of the process cartridge to detect the presence or absence of the seal member when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit. A characteristic electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the seal member detection means is a protruding portion that comes into contact with the seal member when the process cartridge is inserted when the seal member is not removed. . 11. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the seal member detection unit is an optical detection unit that detects the seal member when the seal member is not removed.