JPH10105019A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process cartridge provided with a drum shutter surely opening/closing linked with the attaching/detaching operations of the process cartridge to/from a device main body. SOLUTION: This device is constituted of two shutter members 206 and 207, a supporting member for supporting the shutter members 206 and 207 in a cartridge frame and an arm member 209 for supporting/opening/closing the shutter. The arm member is provided with three engaging parts 209c, 209d and 209e which are engaged with main body abutting parts 106a, 153 and 154 respectively, to open/close the shutter, in accordance with a fitting operation to a cartridge main body.

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 which are attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image by using an electrophotographic method.

[0002]

The present invention is a further development of the prior art described below.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an opening / closing member for opening / closing an exposed portion of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which can be reliably opened / closed in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation of a process cartridge to / from an apparatus body. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing member having a simple structure and good assemblability, and a process cartridge provided with the same.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge having a small trajectory of the opening and closing movement of the opening and closing member.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge configured to perform an opening / closing motion without an opening / closing member coming into contact with a photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame having an opening for exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the cartridge frame including the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means, and an opening / closing member for opening and closing the opening, The opening / closing member includes two shutter members rotatably connected to each other, a shutter supporting member for supporting the shutter member on the cartridge frame, a shutter for supporting the shutter, and interlocking with the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. And an arm member having three engagement portions for opening and closing the member. A.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion provided on the arm member engages with a first contact portion provided on the mounting member when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting member. And a second engagement portion provided on the mounting member when the process cartridge is rotated around the one point and set on the mounting member after one point of the process cartridge is positioned on the mounting member. A second engagement portion that engages with the contact portion to further rotate the arm member, and a third contact portion provided on the device main body when the mounting member is inserted into the device main body, and a final position. The process cartridge according to the first invention, characterized in that the process cartridge is a third engagement portion that rotates the arm member by the third engagement portion.

A third invention according to the present application is the process cartridge according to the first or second invention, wherein the arm member is provided outside a longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame.

[0010] A fourth invention according to the present application is the process cartridge according to the first invention, wherein the two shutter members are urged by elastic members so that the insides thereof approach each other.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the two shutter members are connected at one end to each other, and one of the shutter members is connected to the shutter frame by the shutter support member and the other is connected to the cartridge frame by the arm member. The process cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein:

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a regulating member is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction for regulating the movement of the shutter support member in the thrust direction only when the shutter member is closed. A process cartridge according to a first aspect of the invention.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the widths of the arc-shaped surfaces of the two shutter members are substantially equal. It is a process cartridge of the description.

An eighth invention according to the present application is directed to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum surface side of the two shutter members on both sides of the unsupported side of the shutter member supported by the arm member. Any one of the first to seventh inventions, wherein a projection is provided, and the projection is arranged so as to be in contact with a surface outside the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. 4. The process cartridge according to item 1.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the opening exposes the electrophotographic photosensitive drum opposite to the developing means and the intermediate transfer means provided in the apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to the first aspect, which is a size.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the cartridge frame, the cartridge frame has a projecting portion extending upward from a position supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and has a recessed portion behind the projecting portion. The trajectory of the distal ends of the shutter support member and the arm member extends outside the projecting portion when the cartridge frame is viewed from the side, and is a process cartridge according to the first invention.

An eleventh invention according to the present application is the process cartridge according to the tenth invention, wherein the concave portion on the rear side of the projecting portion has a size to accommodate a shutter member.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge, at least one of a charging unit and a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge to form a cartridge with respect to an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the process cartridge is detachable.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to eleventh aspects, the process cartridge is such that at least the cleaning and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Any one of
The electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to any one of the above.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably mounting a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, processing means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and an opening for incorporating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means and exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame, an opening / closing member that opens and closes the opening, the opening / closing member being rotatably connected to two shutter members, a shutter supporting member that supports the shutter member to the cartridge frame, and a shutter. And an arm member having three engaging portions for supporting and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Cartridge mounting means; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, processing means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and an opening for incorporating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means and exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame, an opening / closing member that opens and closes the opening, the opening / closing member being rotatably connected to two shutter members, a shutter supporting member that supports the shutter member to the cartridge frame, and a shutter. An arm member having three engaging portions for supporting and opening and closing a shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and a cartridge for detachably mounting a process cartridge. Mounting means; b. Conveying means for conveying the recording medium; c. Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; d. A transfer unit for transferring a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

[0022]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic 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 electrophotographic. A process cartridge system detachable from the image forming apparatus main body is employed.

According to this process cartridge system,
Since the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without depending on the service person, the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system
It is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.

Recently, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging means and the cleaning means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are the above-mentioned process cartridges, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the process cartridge is provided with a color developing means and an intermediate transfer member. This allows color printing and the like.

In such a process cartridge, the exposed portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is made large so as to face the exposed portion, the color developing means, and the intermediate transfer member. An opening and closing member is provided for opening and closing the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment First, an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Overall Description of Image Forming Apparatus] First, the overall configuration of a color image forming apparatus will be schematically described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the overall configuration of a laser printer which is an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus.

The color laser printer has an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum 201 rotating at a constant speed, and four rotatable developing cartridges D (Dy, Dm, Dc, Db), and an image forming unit. An intermediate transfer body 103 that holds the multi-transferred color image and further transfers the color image to a transfer material 102 fed from a paper feeding unit 101.

The transfer material 102 on which the color image has been transferred is
Next, the sheet is transported to the fixing unit 104 to fix the color image on the transfer material, and the discharge unit 105 on the upper surface of the apparatus is driven by the discharge roller 105.
23. The rotatable developing cartridge D is configured to be detachable from the printer main body individually.

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

[Photosensitive Drum Unit] The process cartridge C is integrally formed with a photosensitive drum 201 and a container 202 of a cleaning device also serving as a holder for the photosensitive drum 201. The process cartridge C is detachably supported by the printer main body, and is configured such that the unit can be easily replaced according to the life of the photosensitive drum 201.

The photosensitive drum 201 according to the present embodiment is
An organic photoconductor layer is applied to the outside of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 50 mm, and is rotatably supported by a container 202 of a cleaning device also serving as a holder for the photosensitive drum 201. Around the photosensitive drum 201, a cleaning blade 203 for removing the developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 201 and a temporary charging means 204 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 are arranged. Further, by transmitting the driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to one end on the rear side in the drawing, the photosensitive drum 201 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing in accordance with the image forming operation.

To mount the process cartridge C on the apparatus main assembly A, the cartridge insertion portion 150 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge is inserted along the guide member 151, and the cartridge insertion portion 150 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow. This is done by:

[Charging Means] The charging means 204 employs a contact charging method, in which a conductive roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 201, and a voltage is applied to the conductive roller to form a surface of the photosensitive drum 201. Is charged uniformly.

[Exposure Means] Exposure to the photosensitive drum 201 is performed by the scanner unit 106. That is, when an image signal is given to a laser diode, the laser diode irradiates the polygon mirror with image light corresponding to the image signal.

The polygon mirror is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror selectively exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 rotating at a constant speed via the imaging lens and the reflection mirror. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 201.

[Developing Unit] The developing unit includes four developing cartridges Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dy which enable development of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image. Db.

Each of the developing cartridges D is detachably held by a rotary unit 107 which rotates about an axis.
Is rotated about an axis while being held by the rotary unit 107, and a predetermined developing cartridge D stops at a position facing the photosensitive drum 201.
Is a minute distance from the photosensitive drum 201 (about 300 μm)
After being positioned so as to face each other, a visible image is formed corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 201.

When forming a color image, the intermediate transfer member 103
The rotary unit 107 makes one rotation for each rotation of, and the developing process is performed in the order of the yellow developing cartridge Dy, the magenta developing cartridge Dm, the cyan developing cartridge Dc, and then the black developing cartridge Db.

In the figure, the yellow developing cartridge Dy
Indicates a state in which it is positioned at a position facing the photosensitive drum 201 and is stationary. The developing cartridge Dy feeds the toner T in the container to the toner supply roller 2 by the feed mechanism 3, and the toner supply roller 2 rotates counterclockwise in the figure and the blade 4 pressed against the outer periphery of the development roller 1 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. A thin layer of toner is applied to the outer periphery of the developing roller 1 rotating at a time, and a charge is applied to the toner (frictional charging).

The photosensitive drum 201 on which the latent image has been formed
By applying a developing bias to the developing roller 1 opposed to the above, toner development is performed on the photosensitive drum 201 in accordance with the latent image. For the magenta developing cartridge Dm, the cyan developing cartridge Dc, and the black developing cartridge Db, toner development is performed by the same mechanism as described above.

Each developing roller 1 of each developing cartridge D is connected to a high-voltage power supply and a drive (not shown) for developing each color provided in the printer body when each developing cartridge is rotated to the developing position. The voltage is sequentially and selectively applied for each color development, and the driving is connected.

[Intermediate Transfer Body] In the intermediate transfer body 103, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 201 visualized by each developing means is printed four times (Y, M, C, B) during the color image forming operation.
k, each image of the four colors k) is rotated clockwise in the figure in synchronization with the outer peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 201, and the intermediate transfer body subjected to the multiple transfer is a transfer roller 108 to which a voltage is applied. The intermediate transfer member 10 is transferred to the transfer material 102
3 are simultaneously multiplex-transferred.

The intermediate transfer member 103 according to the present embodiment is a belt having a circumference of about 440 mm, and includes a driving roller 103a,
The secondary transfer opposing roller 103b and the driven roller 103c;
It is hung by a book. The transfer belt is configured to run in the direction of the arrow by the rotation of the drive roller 103a.

[Cleaning Unit] After the toner visualized on the photosensitive drum 201 by the developing unit is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 103 by the cleaning blade 203,
This is for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 201, and the cleaned waste toner is stored in the cleaning container 202. The amount of waste toner stored in the cleaning container 202 does not fill the cleaning container earlier than the life of the photosensitive drum 201. Therefore, the cleaning container 202 is integrally and simultaneously replaced when the life of the photosensitive drum 201 is replaced.

[Sheet Feeding Unit] The sheet feeding unit 101 feeds the transfer material 102 to the image forming unit.
Paper feed cassette 109 containing paper 2 and paper feed roller 110,
Feed roller 111, retard roller 112 for preventing double feed,
It mainly includes a registration roller 114.

During image formation, the paper feed roller 110 is driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation to separate and feed the transfer material 102 in the paper feed cassette 109 one by one. It reaches 114.

During the image forming operation, the registration roller 114
Performs a non-rotating operation of stopping the transfer material 102 in a stationary state and a rotating operation of transporting the transfer material 102 toward the intermediate transfer body 103 in a predetermined sequence. Align with.

[Transfer Section] The transfer section comprises a swingable transfer roller 108. The transfer roller 108 is formed by winding a metal shaft with a medium-resistance foam elastic material.
03, and can be moved up and down between a position separated from the intermediate transfer body 103 indicated by a dotted line and driven.

While the four-color toner image is being formed on the intermediate transfer member 103, that is, while the intermediate transfer member 103 is rotating a plurality of times, the transfer roller 108 is moved downward as shown by a dotted line in FIG. And is separated from the intermediate transfer member 103.

After the four color toner images have been formed on the intermediate transfer member 103, the transfer roller 108 is moved upward by a cam member (not shown) by a cam member (not shown) in accordance with the timing of transferring the color image to the transfer material 102. At a predetermined pressure, that is, the intermediate transfer body 103 via the transfer material 102. At this time, a bias is simultaneously applied to the transfer roller 108, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 103 is transferred to the transfer material 102.

Here, the intermediate transfer member 103 and the transfer roller 10
8 is driven, so that the transfer material 102 sandwiched between them is conveyed at a predetermined speed to the left in FIG. Can be

[Fixing Unit] The fixing unit 104 transfers the toner image formed by the developing unit to the transfer material 102 via the intermediate transfer member 103, and fixes the transferred toner image. The fixing unit 104 includes the transfer material 10
2 includes a fixing roller 115 for applying heat and a pressure roller 116 for pressing the transfer material against the fixing roller 115. Each roller is a hollow roller, has a heater inside, and is driven to rotate, and simultaneously the transfer is performed. It is configured to transport the material 102.

That is, the transfer material 102 holding the toner image is
The toner is fixed to the transfer material 102 by being conveyed by the fixing roller 115 and the pressure roller 116 and also being subjected to heat and pressure.

[Drum Shutter Configuration] Next, the drum shutter configuration of the process cartridge C will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a drum shutter (206, 20).
7) shows a closed state, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process cartridge C showing a state in which the drum shutter is opened, FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory views for explaining the assembly of the drum shutter, and FIGS. When the process cartridge C is attached to and detached from the apparatus main assembly A, the drum shutter (206, 20)
It is explanatory drawing explaining the opening / closing mechanism of 7).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the process cartridge C is a cleaning container 202 having a hollow rectangular container shape.
The photosensitive drum 201, which is rotatably supported on the photosensitive drum 201, comes into contact with the primary charging means 204 and the cleaning blade 203 in the cleaning container 202. (See FIGS. 1 and 2) Then, the photosensitive drum 201 is exposed,
In order to be able to contact the developing cartridge D, the outer periphery of the left side of the photosensitive drum 201 is exposed when viewed from the side surface (the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 3) of the photosensitive drum 201. Further, in order to allow the photosensitive drum 201 to come into contact with the intermediate transfer member 103, the outer periphery of the lower part of the photosensitive drum 201 is exposed when viewed from the side surface (the direction of the arrow Z) of the photosensitive drum 201. The exposed portions of the photosensitive drum 201 with respect to the developing cartridge D and the intermediate transfer body 103 are continuous. Further, on both sides of the cleaning container 202, a positioning convex portion 205a for inserting the process cartridge C into the apparatus main body A and a side cover 205 having a guide shape are attached. In such a process cartridge C, drum shutters (206, 207) are provided to prevent damage to the surface of the photosensitive drum 201, adhesion of dust, and deterioration of the photosensitive member due to light. As shown in FIG. 4, the drum shutters (206, 207)
The shutter member 206 and the second shutter member 207 are divided into a shutter member 206 and a second shutter member 207. Both the shutter members 206 and 207 have an arc-shaped side surface along the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 201, and extend from the cleaning container 202 of the photosensitive drum 201 to the outside. It has a length corresponding to the arc of the exposed portion. Also, as shown in FIG.
And the second shutter member 207 are respectively
1 has a hinge portion 206a and a hinge shaft 207a having an axis parallel to 1 and the hinge portion 206a has a hinge shaft 2
07a are rotatably connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, one of the two shutter members 206 and 207 has one end connected to the second shutter member 207 via a hinge portion 206a. The longitudinal groove 206b provided at the end opposite to the provided end has a rotation center 208a parallel to the photosensitive drum 201 (FIG. 3).
(See FIG. 2), the middle connecting portion 20 of the shutter supporting member 208 pivotally attached to the side plate portion of the cleaning container 202.
8b is supported by fitting. That is, the rotation center 208a and the connecting portion 208b are connected to one link 208.
c.

One end of the second shutter member 207 is connected to the first shutter member 206 via a hinge shaft 207a.
Supported by A hinge 207b is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, which is coaxial with the hinge shaft 207a. It is rotatably supported by an arm member 209 that is pivotally attached to one of the two.

At this time, a torsion coil spring (not shown) is locked to the hinge portions 206a and the hinge shafts 207a of the shutter members 206 and 207, and the two shutter members 206 and 207 extend in a direction covering the exposed surface of the photosensitive drum 201. Being energized. That is, both shutter members 206, 2
Reference numeral 07 is urged by a torsion coil spring (not shown) so that the side facing the photosensitive drum 201 approaches and is folded. Further, a torsion coil spring (not shown) is also inserted into the rotation center 209a of the arm member 209, and is urged in a direction in which the drum shutters (206, 207) close.

When the process cartridge C is mounted on the apparatus main body A, the arm member 209 engages with a contact member provided on the apparatus main body A, and the arm member 209 resists the spring force of the torsion coil spring. First, second, and third engagement portions 209c, 209d, and 2
09e is provided. The first engagement portion 209c is
The second engagement portion 209d is located near the center of rotation 209a of the arm member 209, and the third engagement portion 209e is located near the support shaft 209b supporting the shutter member 206.
09b and an arc-shaped arm member connecting the center of rotation 209a is provided at a part of the arm member protruding upward.

Next, the process cartridge C is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A.
The operation of the opening / closing mechanism of the drum shutters (206, 207) when mounted on the camera will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the process cartridge insertion portion 150 of the apparatus main assembly A is pulled out to the front, the cartridge guide members 151 move left and right from the front side to the back side.
The process cartridge C is positioned inside the apparatus main body A by sliding the process cartridge C along the guide member 151 and sliding the process cartridge insertion portion 150 to the set position. Fixed.

More specifically, outside the apparatus main assembly A, the process cartridge C has a drum shutter (206, 207) between the hinge portion 206a and the hinge shaft 207a and between the rotation center 209a and the first side cover 205 as shown in FIG. Are closed by the urging of two torsion coil springs (not shown) provided on the photosensitive drum 201, respectively, and keep the state of covering the photosensitive drum 201. After the process cartridge insertion portion 150 is pulled out as described above, the process cartridge C is inserted along the guide member 151. First, the first contact portion provided above the guide member 151 at the position of FIG. 153 and the third engagement portion 209e of the arm member 209 are engaged, and the drum shutters (206, 207) start to open with the pivot 209a of the arm member 209 as a fulcrum. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the positioning protrusion 205a coaxial with the photosensitive drum 201 provided on the side surface of the side cover 205 falls into the positioning recess 152 at the back of the guide member 151 and is inserted into the process cartridge C. At the same time as the positioning with the part 150 is performed, the second contact part 154 provided below the guide member 151 and the second engagement part 209d of the arm member 209 engage.

Thereafter, when the process cartridge C is rotated in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 8 around the positioning convex portion 205a, the insertion portion 15 of the process cartridge C is rotated.
0 is completed, and the process cartridge insertion portion 150 is pushed into the apparatus main assembly A at the position shown in FIG.
The operation of opening the drum shutters (206, 207) proceeds by the engagement between the second contact portion 154 and the second engagement portion 209d.

When the process cartridge insertion portion 150 is further pushed into the apparatus main assembly A from the position shown in FIG. 9, the third contact portion 106 a provided on the lower surface of the exterior of the scanner portion 106 and the first engagement portion of the arm member 209 are obtained. The arm member 209 is rotated clockwise about the rotation center 209a in conjunction with the pushing operation of the process cartridge insertion part 150, and the drum shutter (20).
6, 207) are opened to a position where they do not interfere with the scanner unit 106. When the process cartridge C is mounted at a predetermined position in the apparatus main assembly A as shown in FIG. 10, the drum shutters (206, 207) are completely opened, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 acting on the developing cartridge D, And the operation surface with the intermediate transfer member 103 is completely exposed.

On the other hand, the apparatus main assembly A of the process cartridge C
When the process cartridge C is taken out of the drum shutter (20), the operation is completely opposite to the above-described operation of mounting the process cartridge C, and the drum shutter (20)
When the process cartridge C is further pulled out from the state shown in FIG.
06, 207) are completely closed (photosensitive drum 201).
Is completely covered).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the arm member 209 that rotatably supports the drum shutter (206, 207) has three engaging portions 20.
9c, 209d, and 209e, and a contact portion 15 provided on the apparatus main assembly A in conjunction with the mounting and dismounting operation of the process cartridge.
3, 154 and 155, respectively, so that the drum shutters (206, 207) can be opened and closed.
06, 207) and a process cartridge provided with the same.

Further, since the first shutter member 206 and the second shutter member 207 are respectively connected to each other and are supported by the shutter support member 208 and the arm member 209, a drum having a simple structure and good assembling property is provided. A shutter (206, 207) and a process cartridge C can be provided.

[Second Embodiment] Next, another example of the drum shutter configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the process cartridge C having the drum shutter configuration described in the first embodiment is used.
, A rib 205b for restricting the shutter support member 208 from coming off is provided on the side opposite to the direction in which the arm member 209 in the longitudinal direction is attached. The rib 205b is provided integrally with the side cover 205 attached to the side surface of the cleaning container 202, and is provided outside the shutter support member 208 in the longitudinal direction. Then, as shown in FIG.
In a state where 7) is closed, the movement of the shutter support member 208 in the detaching direction is restricted by the rib 205b. On the other hand, in a state where the drum shutters (206, 207) are opened against the urging force of the torsion coil spring as shown in FIG.
08 moves to a position beyond the restriction by the rib 205b, so that it can be easily removed.

Therefore, when assembling the drum shutters (206, 207) to the process cartridge C, the operation is performed with the drum shutters (206, 207) opened, so that the drum shutters (206, 20) can be easily assembled.
7) can be performed. In a normal use state, when the user takes out the process cartridge C outside the apparatus main body A for replacement or maintenance, the drum shutters (206, 207) are completely closed by the bias of the torsion coil spring. The shutter support member 208 is regulated by the rib 205b and does not come off.

[Third Embodiment] Next, another example of the drum shutter configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the drum shutter (20
6, 207) is divided into two parts, the first shutter member 206 and the second shutter member 207. In this configuration, as shown in FIG.
Let the widths of the arcs of the shutter member 207 be L1 and L2, respectively.
Then, by setting L1 ≒ L2, the locus of the opening and closing movement of the drum shutters (206, 207) is small, and the drum shutters (206, 207) with good storability can be obtained.

Referring to FIG. 14, in the configuration in which the exposure of the photosensitive drum 201 is large and the scanner section 106 is restricted on the upper surface side as in the ninth embodiment, the integrated drum shutter 210 shown by a broken line If
Considering the trajectory to avoid the projecting portion 202a (the primary charging means 204 and the cleaning blade 203 and the like are provided therein) serving as a cover fitted on the upper surface of the photosensitive drum 201 and the cleaning container 202, the trajectory becomes very large. Would. Further, even when the drum shutter 210 is open, the amount of protrusion on the upper surface is large, and the storage property is poor.

On the other hand, in a two-part type drum shutter (206, 207), the first and second shutter members 206, 207 draw an opening / closing trajectory in a relatively open state. A smaller trajectory than 210 is sufficient. Furthermore, a drum shutter (2
06, 207) in an open state (a state attached to the apparatus main assembly A).
Since the 207 is accommodated in a relatively open state, the amount of protrusion on the upper surface is small.

Then, the two-part drum shutter (2
06, 207), the width of the first and second shutter members 206, 207 is almost equally divided, so that the amount of protrusion of the arc becomes the smallest as compared with the non-uniformly divided ones. Therefore, the drum shutter (206,
The trajectory of the opening / closing movement of the drum shutter (207) becomes smaller, and the housing of the drum shutters (206, 207) can be improved.

[Embodiment 4] Next, another example of the structure of the drum shutter will be described with reference to FIG. In the drum shutter configuration described in the first embodiment, when the drum shutters (206, 207) perform opening and closing movements, the end of the second shutter member 207 opposite to the end connected to the first shutter member 206. Is not supported by a support member or the like, and is opened and closed while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 201 by the bias of a spring. Therefore, in this embodiment,
A rib 207c is provided on both ends of the side surface of the photosensitive drum 201 of the second shutter member 207, at portions facing the aluminum surface 201b outside the photosensitive layer 201a of the photosensitive drum 201. In this configuration, when the drum shutters (206, 207) are opened and closed, the rib 207c and the aluminum surface 201b of the photosensitive drum 201 are always in contact with each other to open and close. Therefore, the photosensitive layer 201a of the photosensitive drum 201 and the drum shutters (206, 207) always maintain a constant gap.
The drum shutters (206, 207) can be opened and closed without damaging the surface of the photosensitive layer 201a.

[0078]

[Embodiments] These are described together with the embodiments of the invention.

[0079]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an opening / closing member for opening / closing an opening for exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The opening / closing member includes two rotatable shutter members. A shutter support member for supporting the shutter member on the cartridge frame; and three engagement portions for supporting the shutter and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. By having the arm member, it is possible to provide a process cartridge having a drum shutter that can be reliably opened and closed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, the engaging portion provided on the arm member engages with the first contact portion provided on the mounting member to allow the arm member to be engaged. And a second engagement portion provided on the mounting member when the process cartridge is rotated around the one point and set on the mounting member after one point of the process cartridge is positioned on the mounting member. A second engagement portion that engages with the contact portion to further rotate the arm member, and a third contact portion provided on the device main body when the mounting member is inserted into the device main body, and a final position. The process cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the third engagement portion is configured to rotate the arm member by the time. Drum shutter You can open and close the.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to the first or second aspect, the arm member is provided outside a longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame. In addition, the rotation angle of the arm member can be increased, which is suitable for a process cartridge having a large opening.

A fourth invention according to the present application is the process cartridge according to the first invention, wherein the two shutter members are urged by elastic members so that the insides thereof approach each other. Accordingly, since there is no need for a member for restricting and moving one of the two shutter members, the opening and closing means of the shutter member can be simply configured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the two shutter members are connected at one end to each other, one of the shutter members is connected to a shutter supporting member and the other is connected to a cartridge frame by an arm member. The process cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a trajectory restricting one shutter member is drawn, and the other one shutter member can follow this shutter member. Only the shutter member is increased, the configuration is simple, and a large opening can be opened and closed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a restricting member for restricting the movement of the shutter support member in the thrust direction only at the time when the shutter member is closed is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction. With the process cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is easy to attach the drum shutter to the process cartridge.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the widths of the arc-shaped surfaces of the two shutter members are substantially equal. With the process cartridge described above, the two shutter members can be moved along the cartridge frame, so that the space required between the shutter member and the apparatus main body is small. That is, the storability is good.

An eighth invention according to the present application is directed to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum surface side at both ends of the two shutter members which are not supported by the shutter member which is supported by the arm member. First to seventh projections are provided, and the projections are arranged so as to come into contact with a surface outside the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
With the process cartridge according to any one of the above aspects, the process cartridge can be opened and closed without damaging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the opening exposes the electrophotographic photosensitive drum facing the developing means and the intermediate transfer means provided in the apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to the first aspect having a size is suitable for application to a multicolor image forming apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the cartridge frame has a projecting portion extending upward from a position supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and has a recessed portion behind the projecting portion. In the process cartridge according to the first aspect, the trajectory of the distal ends of the shutter support member and the arm member passes through the outside of the projecting portion when the cartridge frame is viewed from the side. In the process cartridge provided with the charging means upward, the shutter member can be housed at about the height of the projecting portion containing the charging means, and the volume occupied by the process cartridge when the shutter member is opened is small.

An eleventh invention according to the present application is the process cartridge according to the tenth invention, wherein the concave portion on the rear side of the projecting portion has a size to accommodate a shutter member. In the state where the shutter member is opened, there is little unevenness on the upper surface of the process cartridge, and the cartridge mounting space of the apparatus body may be small.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge includes at least one of a charging unit and a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the process cartridge is detachable.

The thirteenth invention according to the present invention is the first to eleventh inventions in which the process cartridge is configured such that at least the cleaning and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body. Any one of
The present invention is preferably applied to such a process cartridge.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cartridge incorporating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process unit, and having an opening for exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum A frame, and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening, wherein the opening and closing member is rotatably connected to two shutter members,
An arm including a shutter support member for supporting the shutter member on the cartridge frame, and three engagement portions for supporting the shutter and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Cartridge mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having a member; b. And a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium, wherein the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a drum shutter that can be reliably opened and closed, so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is mounted in the apparatus main body. The electrophotographic photosensitive drum of the process cartridge can be arranged at an accurate position with respect to the process means of the apparatus main body.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably mounting a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cartridge incorporating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process unit, and having an opening for exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum A frame, and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening, wherein the opening and closing member is rotatably connected to two shutter members,
An arm including a shutter support member for supporting the shutter member on the cartridge frame, and three engagement portions for supporting the shutter and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Cartridge mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having a member; b. Conveying means for conveying the recording medium; c. Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; d. And a transfer unit for transferring a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.Because the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a drum shutter that can be reliably opened and closed, It can be mounted on the main body of the apparatus, and can be arranged at an accurate position with respect to the developing means and the transfer means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge can be attached and detached.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge can be attached and detached.

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

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the drum shutter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a drum shutter and a supporting member thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the opening and closing operation of the drum shutter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the opening and closing operation of the drum shutter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the opening and closing operation of the drum shutter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the opening and closing operation of the drum shutter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a support member of the drum shutter according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a support member of the drum shutter according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a dimensional relationship between two shutter members according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a movement locus of a drum shutter.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a drum shutter according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Apparatus main body C: Process cartridge D (Dy, Dm, Dc, Db): Developing cartridge T: Toner 1: Developing roller 2: Toner supply roller 3: Feeding mechanism 4: Blade 101: Feeding unit 102: Transfer material 103 ... Intermediate transfer member 103a ... Drive roller 103b
… Secondary transfer opposed roller 103c… Follower roller 104… Fixing unit 105… Discharge roller 106… Scanner unit 106a… Contact unit 107… Rotary unit 108… Transfer roller 109… Feed cassette 110… Feed roller 111… Feed roller 112 ... Retard roller 114 ... Registration roller 115 ... Fixing roller 116 ... Pressure roller 123 ... Discharge unit 150 ... Cartridge insertion unit 151 ... Guide member 152 ... Positioning recess 153 ... First contact part 154 ... Second contact part 155 ... Third contact portion 201: photosensitive drum 201a: photosensitive layer 201b: aluminum surface 202: cleaning container 202a: projecting portion 203: cleaning blade 204: primary charging means 205: side cover 205a: positioning projection 20
5b: rib 206: shutter member (drum shutter) 206
a: hinge part 207: shutter member (drum shutter) 207
a ... hinge shaft 207b ... hinge part 207c ... rib 208 ... shutter support member 208a ... center of rotation 2
08b: middle connecting portion 208c: link 209: arm member 209a: center of rotation 209b:
Support shaft 209c ... engagement part 209d ... engagement part 209
e: engaging portion 210: drum shutter

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process unit. And a cartridge frame having an opening for exposing a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening, wherein the opening and closing member is rotatably connected to two shutters. A shutter support member for supporting the member and the shutter member on the cartridge frame, and three engagement portions for supporting the shutter and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A process cartridge, comprising: an arm member provided with the process cartridge. A first contact portion provided on the mounting member for engaging the first cartridge with the first contact portion provided on the mounting member when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting member;
The engaging portion engages with a second contact portion provided on the mounting member when the process cartridge is rotated around the one point and set on the mounting member after one point of the process cartridge is positioned on the mounting member. To further rotate the arm member
An engagement portion and a third engagement portion that engages with a third contact portion provided on the device main body when the mounting member is inserted into the device main body and rotates the arm member to a final position. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the arm member is provided outside a longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the two shutter members are urged by elastic members so that the insides thereof approach each other. 5. The two shutter members are connected at one ends thereof, one shutter member is connected to a shutter supporting member and the other shutter member is connected to a cartridge frame by an arm member, respectively. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 6. A restricting member for restricting a movement of the shutter support member in a thrust direction only at a time when the shutter member is closed is provided at one end in a longitudinal direction. The process cartridge as described. 7. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the two shutter members have substantially equal widths of arc-shaped surfaces. 8. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum surface is provided with projections at both ends of the two shutter members that are not supported by the shutter member that is supported by the arm member. 8. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed so as to come into contact with a surface outside the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. 9. The electrophotographic photosensitive drum has a size such that, when the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum faces the developing means and the intermediate transfer means provided in the apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to 1. 10. The cartridge frame has a protruding portion upward from a position supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and has a concave portion on the rear side of the protruding portion. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the trajectory of the tip of the arm member extends outside the projecting portion when the cartridge frame is viewed from the side. 3. 11. The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the concave portion on the rear side of the projecting portion has a size to accommodate a shutter member. 12. The process cartridge, wherein at least one of a charging unit and a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is configured such that at least the cleaning and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body. Photosensitive drum. 14. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachable and which forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an opening that incorporates the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process unit and exposes a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame, an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening, wherein the opening and closing member is rotatably connected to two shutter members, a shutter supporting member for supporting the shutter member to the cartridge frame, and a shutter. And an arm member having three engaging portions for supporting and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Cartridge mounting means; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 15. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an opening that incorporates the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process unit and exposes a part of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame, an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening, wherein the opening and closing member is rotatably connected to two shutter members, a shutter supporting member for supporting the shutter member to the cartridge frame, and a shutter. And an arm member having three engaging portions for supporting and opening and closing the shutter member in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Cartridge mounting means; b. Conveying means for conveying the recording medium; c. Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; d. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit for transferring a toner image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum.