JPS63247763A - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive the miniaturization of a process cartridge by assembling an elastic body to a dead space between a developing device and a frame body, and energizing the developing device to an image carrying body side by this elastic body. CONSTITUTION:As for a process cartridge, an image carrying body 1, an electrifier 8, a developing device 2, etc., are assembled integrally to a frame body 5 and formed to a unit. The developing device 2 is supported pivotally around a rotary shaft 9 in the frame body 5. In a dead space 6 between the developing device 2 and the frame body 5, an elastic body 7 being larger than width B of the dead space 6 is contracted and assembled, therefore, the developing device 2 is energized in the direction of the image carrying body 1 around the rotary shaft 9 by the resiliency of the elastic body 7, and an abutting member 4 abuts on a part of the image carrying body 1. Therefore, a distance between the image carrying body 1 and a developer carrying body 3 is kept constant A. In such a way, it is unnecessary to set a fitting space of a spring, etc., for energizing the developing device 2 to the image carrying body 1, and the process cartridge can be miniaturized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a developing device built into the process cartridge.

[Conventional technology]

An example of a conventional image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 2, which shows an apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, this type of apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body and a cover M2 that is pivotally supported to the main body H so that it can be opened and closed. The process cartridge includes an image carrier 1, a charger 8, and an exposure means 13.
It consists of a developing device 2, a cleaner 12 equipped with a cleaning blade 11, an erase lamp 15, etc., and is assembled into a unit by integrally assembling them into a frame 5.
By attaching and removing the frame 5 to the cover M2, the process cartridge can be attached to and removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, there is a transfer charger 1 in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
4. Paper guide 1 that conveys the transfer paper along the image carrier 1
6.18. Feed roller 17. Fixing device 19, discharge roller 20. A stacker 21 is installed.

By the way, conventionally, the developing device 2 is pivotally supported on a frame body 5 around a rotating shaft 9, the abutting member 4 of the developing device 2 is abutted against a part of the image carrier 1, and the abutting member 4 is held against the current device 2. The distance between the developer conveying means 3 and the image carrier 1 is maintained constant, and a spring 22 urges the conveying means 3 toward the image carrier.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a hook portion for the spring, and additional space must be secured for installing the spring, which has the disadvantage of preventing the process cartridge from becoming smaller.

An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge that eliminates the above-mentioned problems.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a process cartridge in which at least an image bearing member and a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member are assembled to a frame to form a unit, and the unit is removably attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus. The developing device is pivotally supported on the frame around a rotating shaft, and the abutting member of the developing device is brought into contact with a part of the image carrier, and the developer in the developing device is transferred to the image by the abutting member. The distance between the developer conveying means for supplying the developer to the carrier and the image carrier is kept constant, and an elastic body is installed in the empty space between the developer and the frame, and the elastic body moves the developer towards the image carrier. This is a process cartridge characterized by being energized.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, the process cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image carrier 1, a charger 8,
It consists of an exposure means 13, a developing device 2, a cleaner 12, an erase lamp, etc., and is assembled into a unit by integrally assembling the frame 5.

The unit is removably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. As the image carrier 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, ■ potential disappears by the erase lamp 15, ■ charges by the charger 8, ■
Formation of an electrostatic latent image by the exposure means 13; (1) toner development with the toner 10 from the developing device 2; (2) transfer of the toner image onto a transfer paper (not shown) by the transfer charger 14; (2) remaining on the image carrier 1. An image is formed on the transfer paper through the process of scraping off the toner by the toner cleaning blade 11, and the toner is fixed by the fixing device 19. This point is the same as before.

The process cartridge has a frame 5, an image carrier 1, a developer 2
．． Charger8. A cleaning blade 11 is built-in. There is a space 6 between the frame 5 and the developing device 2. The developing device 2 is pivotally supported around a rotating shaft 9 of a frame 5. A developer conveying means 3 is held in the developing device 2 so as to be parallel to the image carrier 1 . In order to stabilize the image, it is necessary to maintain a constant distance A between the image carrier 1 and the developer transport means 3.

In this embodiment, the elastic body 7, which is larger than the width B of the empty space 6 between the developing device 2 and the frame 5, is compressed and assembled into the space 6, and the developing device 2 is moved by the repulsive force of the elastic body 7. The distance between the image carrier 1 and the developer conveying means 3 is maintained at a constant A by urging the image carrier 1 and bringing the contact member 4 into contact with a part of the image carrier 1.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by inserting an elastic body into the empty space between the image carrier support frame and @image device, the developing device can be urged against the image carrier, and the spring can be installed in the space. There is no need to make any special settings, the space can be removed, and the process cartridge can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus using an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional process cartridge.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process cartridge in which at least an image bearing member and a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member are assembled into a frame to form a unit, and the unit is removably attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus. The developing device is pivotally supported on the frame around a rotating shaft, and the abutting member of the developing device is brought into contact with a part of the image carrier, and the developer in the developing device is transferred to the image by the abutting member. The distance between the developer conveying means for supplying the developer to the carrier and the image carrier is kept constant, and an elastic body is installed in the empty space between the developer and the frame, and the elastic body moves the developer towards the image carrier. A process cartridge characterized by being energized.