KR20100075053A - Cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided to simplify the transport structure of a waste developer. CONSTITUTION: A housing receives a developer, and a developer transfer member(330) transports the developer from and to the housing. The developer transport member includes plural slits(332) arranged along a first direction. In order for the developer transport member to transport the developer in a second direction, the plural slits are inclined with respect to the first direction. The width of the slit in the first movement direction is lower than the movement width of the developer transport member.

Description

Cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same {CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a conveying apparatus for conveying toner used as a developer for forming a visible image.

Typically, a toner cartridge applied to an image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of devices for transferring toner. For example, a toner transfer device for transferring the toner to be used for image formation toward the photosensitive medium or a waste toner transfer device for transferring the waste toner remaining on the photosensitive medium to a predetermined space may be provided.

The present invention can be applied as a toner transfer device or a waste toner transfer device, and is designed to improve the transfer force in such a device. In order to maximize the effect according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable to be used as a waste toner transfer device.

In general, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process is provided with a photosensitive medium cleaning unit for removing waste toner that has not yet been transferred from the photosensitive medium.

The photosensitive medium cleaning unit includes a cleaning member for physically cleaning the surface of the photosensitive medium, and a waste toner container for collecting the waste toner scraped by the cleaning member.

Waste toner removed from the photosensitive medium is stacked inside the waste toner container. However, when the waste toner is stacked in the vicinity of the cleaning member, the stacked waste toner may be solidified by heat. Then, despite the remaining space of the waste toner container, the waste toner inflow may be blocked and overflow of the waste toner may occur.

Therefore, a transfer unit for transferring the waste toner removed by the cleaning member may be employed. However, since the waste toner container is generally a closed space, the more the transfer unit operates, the greater the internal pressure of the waste toner container. For example, when the transfer unit rotates and transfers the waste toner, the pressure of the waste toner accommodating portion may be increased by the rotating transfer unit so that a part of the waste toner contained in the waste toner accommodating portion may leak out. Therefore, it is necessary to properly regulate the momentum of the transfer unit.

This problem is not limited to the waste toner container and the waste toner transfer unit. If the toner conveying device for transferring the toner toward the photosensitive medium or the developing member for development has an excessive amount of rotation or momentum as above, the amount of toner to be developed may not be uniform, which may cause image unevenness and cause toner leakage. It may be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a cartridge capable of simplifying a developer transport structure and minimizing developer storage space, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge having an improved structure so as to stably transfer a developer to a developer accommodating part or a photosensitive medium and to prevent backflow of the developer, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

A cartridge according to the spirit of the present invention includes a housing containing a developer; and a developer conveying member for transferring the developer to or from the housing, wherein the developer conveying member is arranged along a first direction. And a plurality of slits, wherein the plurality of slits are provided to be inclined with respect to the first direction so that the developer transfer member can transfer the developer in a second direction.

The width of the slit in the first direction may be smaller than the moving width of the developer transport member.

An interval between the slits in the first direction may be smaller than a moving width of the developer transport member.

The angle at which the slit is inclined with respect to the first direction may be between about 15 ° and 80 °.

The drive unit may include a rotating member for transmitting power to the developer transfer member.

The rotating member may have a cam member protruding from the rotating member and provided to change the height of the protrusion along the rotation direction of the rotating member.

The width of the slit may be smaller than the height difference between the lowest surface and the highest surface of the cam member.

The drive unit may include an elastic body for restoring the developer transfer member to its original position.

The cartridge may further include a boss provided in the housing to guide the reciprocating motion of the developer transfer member.

The developer conveying member may have a guide through hole coupled to the boss.

The size of the slit in the first direction may be smaller than the size of the guide through hole.

The slits may be arranged in a plurality of rows in the second direction.

The cartridge further includes a photosensitive medium, and the transferred developer may be a waste developer remaining on the photosensitive medium after image formation.

The cartridge further includes a photosensitive medium, and the transferred developer may be a developer supplied to the photosensitive medium for image formation.

In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the spirit of the present invention is a photosensitive medium is formed electrostatic latent image; And a developing unit for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive medium to form a visible image; and a transfer unit for transferring an image on the photosensitive medium to a print medium; and a tip installed in contact with the photosensitive medium. A cleaning device having a cleaning member for removing the residual developer remaining in the cleaning device; and a waste developer transported to the first side in order to receive the waste developer removed from the photosensitive medium by the cleaning member and reciprocating in the first direction. A waste developer conveying device having a member and a waste developer containing portion for storing a waste developer conveyed by the waste developer conveying member, wherein the waste developer conveying member is arranged in the first direction and inclined with respect to the first direction. It characterized by including the slits provided.

According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, it is possible to transfer the waste developer removed from the photosensitive medium to the waste developer accommodating portion only by horizontal movement of the waste developer conveying member to prevent the waste developer from flowing back to the cleaning member side.

In addition, by preventing the waste developer from accumulating on the cleaning member, it is possible to have an effect of improving the deterioration of cleaning performance due to the waste developer accumulation.

In addition, it is possible to implement a compact waste developer cleaning structure by simplifying the developer transport structure and minimizing the waste developer storage space by transferring the waste developer only by horizontal movement.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body 10, a print medium supply unit 20, a light scanning unit 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K, a cartridge 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. ), A transfer unit 50, a fixing unit 60 and a print medium discharge unit 70.

The main body 10 forms the appearance of the image forming apparatus and supports various components installed therein.

The print medium supply unit 20 includes a cassette 21 for storing the print medium S, a pickup roller 22 for picking up the print medium S stored in the cassette 21 one by one, and the picked up print medium. It comprises a feed roller 23 for feeding (S) toward the transfer unit (50).

The optical scanning units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K are light-sensitive media which are described later according to a print signal to light corresponding to image information of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors. 80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K).

Each cartridge 40Y, 40M, 40C, 40K has photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K. The photosensitive medium (80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K) is a counseling member carrying an electrostatic latent image formed by the optical scanning unit (30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K) and a visible image formed by a developer supplied to the electrostatic latent image ( Image carrier). The photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K may be installed separately from the cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K.

The photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K are charged to a predetermined potential by the charging device 90Y, 90M, 90C, and 90K before light is scanned from the optical scanning units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive mediums 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K by the light scanned from the light scanning unit 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K.

The cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K have a developer of different colors, for example, a developer of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors. 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K are supplied to form a visible image on the surface of each photosensitive medium 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K. Detailed description of the cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K will be described later.

The transfer unit 50 transfers the visible image formed on the photosensitive mediums 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K to the print medium. The transfer unit 50 is in contact with each photosensitive medium 80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K, the transfer belt 51 which circulates and travels, the transfer belt drive roller 52 which drives the transfer belt 51, and the transfer belt. And a tension roller 53 for maintaining the tension of the 51 and four transfer rollers 54 for transferring the visible images of the photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K to the print media. .

The print medium is attached to the transfer belt 51 and transported at the same speed as the traveling speed of the transfer belt 51. At this time, each transfer roller 54 is applied with a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developer attached to each of the photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K, and thus the photosensitive media 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K. The image on the image is transferred to a print medium.

The fixing unit 60 includes a heating roller 61 having a heat source and a pressure roller 62 which is provided to face the heating roller 61. When the print medium passes between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 62, the image is printed by the heat transmitted from the heating roller 61 and the pressure acting between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 62. Is fixed to the medium.

The print medium discharge unit 70 includes a discharge roller 71 and a pinch roller 72 to discharge the print medium passing through the fixing unit 60 to the outside of the main body 10.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, the cartridge 40Y in which the yellow (Y) color is accommodated is described as an example, but the following description may be equally applied to the other three cartridges 40M, 40C, and 40K, which are not specifically mentioned.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cartridge 40Y includes a photosensitive medium 80Y, a developing unit 100, a cleaning device 200, and a waste developer conveying device 300.

The developing unit 100 includes a container-shaped base frame 110 filled with a developer and a cover 112 covering the upper portion of the base frame 110, and defined by the base frame 110 and the cover 112. The developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 114.

The developer accommodating chamber 114 is partitioned into the first developer accommodating chamber 118 and the second developer accommodating chamber 120 by the partition wall 116, and the first developer accommodating chamber 118 and the second developing chamber are 116. The water receiving chamber 120 communicates with each other up and down through an inlet 116a formed at one side of the partition 116.

The developer stored in the first developer accommodation chamber 118 is transferred to the upper side of the first developer accommodation chamber 118 by the belt device 130 in the developer temporary storage unit 116b formed in the partition wall 116. Supplied. The developer supplied to the developer temporary storage unit 116b is transferred to one side of the partition wall 116 by the supply auger 140, and then freely falls into the second developer accommodation chamber 120 through the inlet 116a. do.

The free-falling developer is circulated by the first circulation auger 150 and the second circulation auger 152 with the circulation wall 154 interposed therebetween. It is supplied to the developing member 162 by a large power. The developer supplied to the developing member 162 has its layer regulated by the regulating device 164, and is attached to the surface of the photosensitive medium 80Y on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the optical scanning unit 30Y. To form.

The first circulation auger 150, the second circulation auger 152, the supply member 160, and the developing member 162 of the present embodiment exemplarily show means for supplying a developer to the photosensitive medium 80Y. It is not necessarily limited to this case. For example, in the two-component developing method, the supply member may be omitted. In addition, in the present embodiment, the supply member 160 or the developing member 162 is applied to the cylindrical roller, but is not limited to the roller shape, it can be applied to the belt type or brush type.

On the other hand, when a sufficient amount of the developer is supplied to the second developer chamber 120, the inflow of the developer through the inlet 116a is stopped, the developer not introduced into the inlet 116a to the inlet 116a It is conveyed to the belt apparatus 130 side by the conveyance blade 141 provided in the edge part of the supply auger 140 in the corresponding position.

The belt device 130 includes a conveyance belt 132 and a pair of drive shafts 134 and 136 for driving the conveyance belt 132.

The reason for using the transfer belt 132 in the present embodiment is as follows. Conventionally, a plurality of agitators were arranged almost horizontally to supply the developer toward the supply member. In addition, in the color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are stacked in a substantially vertical direction as in the present embodiment, the height of each cartridge should be lowered in order to lower the height of the image forming apparatus, which should reduce the stirrer rotation radius inside the cartridge. There is an essential relationship. However, as the rotation radius of the stirrer decreases, the rotation radius of the developer to be transported decreases, thereby reducing the area to be transported. Therefore, a sufficient number of stirrers are required for smooth transfer of the developer. However, when the developer is supplied through a large number of agitators, the stress of the developer becomes severe, and as the number of the agitators increases, the configuration becomes complicated and the driving force transmission structure for driving the agitator also becomes complicated. On the contrary, in the case of supplying the developer in the form of a conveying belt as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to have a plurality of stirrers even if the height of the cartridge is reduced, and the driving force transmission structure is simplified. It also reduces the stress on developers.

In the cartridge 40Y of this embodiment, it is returned to the partition wall 116 that the developer deformed and altered by the pressure and the temperature around the developing member 162 and the supply member 160 is returned to the first developer accommodation chamber 118. Is prevented and consumed sequentially from the developer around the supply member 160 and the developing member 162, thereby ensuring a constant print quality at all times. In addition, since a high quality developer is prevented from being mixed with a deformed or deteriorated developer and prevented from being used, the developer use efficiency is improved.

The cleaning apparatus 200 removes the waste developer remaining on the photosensitive medium 80Y without being transferred to the print medium in the image forming process.

3 and 4 are a plan view and a perspective view showing a cleaning apparatus and a waste developer transport apparatus in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a perspective view showing a waste developer conveying member and a holder in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is a waste developer conveying member, a holder and a rotating member in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention It is a perspective view showing. In FIG. 4, some components are omitted and illustrated, and the waste developer transport member is separated from the holder and the lower housing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cleaning apparatus 200 includes a cleaning member 210 having one end disposed in contact with the photosensitive medium 80Y to scrape off the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive medium 80Y. It can be configured to include. The waste developer removed by the cleaning member 210 is transferred by the waste developer conveying member 330 and stored in the waste developer accommodating part 320.

The cleaning member 210 is typically applied to a blade type made of a rubber material such as urethane or silicone. The edges of the rubber blades are in mechanical contact with the photosensitive medium to clean foreign substances such as residual developer or stake on the photosensitive medium. The rubber blade is attached to a support bracket made of metal or a material of higher rigidity than the rubber material, and the support bracket is attached to the cartridge housing and supported.

In this embodiment, the blade type is taken as the cleaning member 210, but other types of cleaning members may be applied. For example, the blade-type cleaning member may be installed in connection with an elastic member such as a spring installed to enable flow. Alternatively, the brush type may be used instead of the blade type to clean the surface of the photosensitive medium with fine cilia. It is also possible to provide a film type member.

The waste developer transfer apparatus 300 transfers and stores the waste developer removed from the photosensitive medium 80Y by the cleaning apparatus 200.

2 to 4, the waste developer transport apparatus 300 includes a housing 310, a waste developer transport member 330, a drive unit 350, and a waste developer receiver 320.

The housing 310 is composed of upper and lower housings 312 and 314. The photosensitive medium 80Y is rotatably installed in the upper housing 312 or the lower housing 314, and the cleaning member 210 is lowered. It is installed in the housing 314. In addition, a waste developer accommodating part 320 for collecting the waste developer removed by the cleaning member 210 is provided in the space formed by the combination of the upper housing 312 and the lower housing 314.

The waste developer conveying member 330 is installed above the cleaning member 210 so that the waste developer removed by the cleaning member 210 can be transferred onto the waste developer conveying member 330.

The waste developer transport member 330 may be provided in a plate type, and may be formed of a plastic mold or a film having excellent elastic restoring force. In addition, the waste toner conveying member 330 may be formed by adding a metallic material. As such, when the waste developer transporting member 330 is provided in a plate type, the waste developer may be efficiently transferred even if the height of the waste developer accommodating part 320 is lowered as the height of the cartridge 40Y is lowered.

The waste developer conveying member 330 reciprocates in the first direction (A direction) by the driving unit 350 which will be described later, and the waste developer recovered by the cleaning member 210 toward the waste developer accommodating portion 320. Transfer in the second direction (B direction).

The waste developer transport member 330 has a plurality of slits 332 to effectively transport the waste developer. The slits 332 are arranged along the movement direction of the waste developer conveying member 330, that is, the first direction (A direction), and are provided to be inclined with respect to the first direction. 3 illustrates an example in which the slits 332 are arranged in two rows in the second direction, but of course, the slits 332 may be arranged in one row or three rows or more. 3 illustrates an example in which slits arranged in a first row and slits 332 arranged in a second row are arranged side by side in an inclined direction, but slits arranged in a first row and slits arranged in a second row are illustrated. It is of course possible to arrange the 332 to be offset from each other.

Toner removed by the cleaning member 210 is accumulated on the upper side of the cleaning member 210. The inclined slits 332 are formed by the cleaning member 210 when the waste developer conveying member 330 reciprocates. The waste developer stacked on the upper side is pushed toward the developer accommodating part 370. Therefore, the transfer operation of the developer can be performed using the minimum waste developer accommodation space.

The angle θ of the inclined slit 332 with respect to the first direction (A direction) is preferably about 15 ° to 80 ° and within a given value according to the design characteristics of the waste developer conveying device 300. You can choose appropriately. The developer has to be transferred in both the first direction (A direction) and the second direction (B direction) by the movement of the waste developer conveying apparatus 300 in the first direction, and the angle θ of the slit 332 is about 15 degrees. When less than °, since the amount of developer transport in the first direction is significantly smaller, the problem of accumulation and solidification of the developer may occur. On the contrary, when the angle θ of the slit 332 is greater than about 80 °, the developer transfer amount in the second direction is significantly reduced, which may cause the developer to accumulate and solidify.

In order to facilitate the recovery operation of the developer, the width d of the slit 332 in the first direction is preferably smaller than the maximum moving width Dmax of the waste developer conveying member 330. This is because when the width d of the slit is larger than the movement amount of the waste developer conveying member 330, the toner removed from the cleaning member 210 may be loaded in place without moving.

In addition, the distance g between the slits 332 adjacent to each other in the first direction is preferably smaller than the maximum moving width Dmax of the waste developer conveying member 330.

In addition, the slits disposed in the first row and the slits disposed in the second row may have different widths (d) or gaps (g). However, even in this case, the width d of the slit 332 in the first direction is preferably smaller than the maximum moving width Dmax of the waste developer conveying member 330, and the slits 332 neighboring each other in the first direction. It is preferable that the interval g of the gap is smaller than the maximum moving width Dmax of the waste developer conveying member 330.

The slits arranged in the first row and the slits arranged in the second row serve to flow the developer in the second direction. That is, the waste developer is transferred in the second direction due to the first direction of movement of the slits arranged in the first row and the slits arranged in the second row. The waste developer past the slits in the second row may be moved in the first direction by the aperture 336. The through hole 336 prevents the solidification or accumulation of the developer by generating a flow in a direction including the first direction rather than transferring the developer in the second direction.

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the waste developer conveying member 330 is formed with at least one guide through-hole 334 for reciprocating the first direction in the first direction, the upper The housing 312 and the lower housing 314 are at least provided to correspond to the at least one first boss 322 (see FIG. 2) and the first boss 322 provided at a position corresponding to the guide through hole 334. It has one second boss 324. The first boss 322 has at least one coupling hole 323 (see FIG. 2) for coupling with the second boss 324, and the second boss 324 supports the support part 325 and the coupling part 326. Have

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first boss 322 is installed in the upper housing 312, the at least one second boss 324 is installed in the lower housing 314, The position of the first boss 322 and the second boss 324 may be changed.

2, the outer diameter of the first boss 322 is preferably formed larger than the guide through-hole 334.

In addition, the first boss 322 and the second boss 324 is coupled to have a clearance corresponding to the thickness of the waste developer conveying member 330, the coupling of the coupling hole 323 and the second boss of the first boss. It is preferable to be able to regulate the vertical flow of the waste developer transport member 330 by the combination of the part 326.

The coupling portion 326 of the second boss 324 is inserted into the coupling hole 323 of the first boss 322 through the waste developer conveying member 330, the support portion 325 of the second boss 324. Is provided to support the waste developer transport member 330 in the lower portion of the guide through-hole 334.

The coupling portion 326 of the second boss has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the guide through hole 334, the support portion 325 of the second boss is formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the guide through hole 334. Therefore, the support part 325 of the second boss supports the waste developer conveying member 330 at the bottom of the guide through-hole 334, thereby preventing the waste developer conveying member 330 from sagging down.

In addition, the waste developer conveying member 330 has a through hole 336 formed to allow the developer, which has been raised above the waste developer conveying member 330, to flow into the waste developer accommodating part 320 in the developer conveying process.

The driving unit 350 reciprocates the waste developer conveying member 330 in the first direction (A direction). As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the driving unit 350 may include a driving gear 360, a rotating member 370, a holder 380, and an elastic body 390.

The drive gear 360 rotates by receiving power from a driving source (not shown), and transmits rotational force to the rotating member 370. The rotating member 370 may include a body 372 having a gear 371 formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a cam member 374 provided on one surface of the body 372. The cam member 374 has a cam surface 375 protruding from the body 372 of the rotating member 370 along the circumferential direction of the rotating member 370. The cam surface 375 has the lowest surface 375a which protrudes least, the highest surface 375b which protrudes the most, and the inclined surface 375c which connects the lowest surface 375a and the highest surface 375b.

The holder 380 is disposed between the rotating member 370 and the waste developer conveying member 330, and is coupled to the waste developer conveying member 330. First and second holder coupling holes 338 and 340 are formed at one end of the waste developer transfer member 330, and the holder 380 is coupled to the first holder coupling hole 338 of the waste developer transfer member 330. Hook 382 and a coupling protrusion 384 coupled to the second holder coupling hole 340.

The holder 380 is linearly moved by the cam member 374 as the rotating member 370 rotates. Holder 380 has an actuating arm 386 which is placed at a position where one end may interfere with cam member 374.

When the rotating member 370 rotates while the operating arm 386 is in contact with the cam member 374, the operating arm 386 moves along the cam surface 375, thereby being coupled to the holder 380. The waste developer conveying member 330 linearly moves in the first direction.

The height difference h between the lowest surface 375a and the highest surface 375b of the cam surface 375 is preferably larger than the width d of the slit 332 formed in the waste developer conveying member 330. Then, the maximum moving width Dmax of the waste developer conveying member 330 becomes larger than the width d of the slit 332, thereby allowing the waste developer to be conveyed more effectively.

The elastic body 390 elastically biases the holder 380 so that the waste developer conveying member 330 moved by the cam member 374 can be returned to its original position. One side of the elastic body 390 is supported by the lower housing 314, and the other side of the elastic body 390 is supported by the holder 380.

In this embodiment, an example of returning the waste developer conveying member by using an elastic body has been described, but a cam curve for restraining the working arm is formed on the rotating member without using the elastic body so that the operating arm moves along the cam curve. It will be alright.

As an embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to the waste developer conveying apparatus, the present conveying apparatus can be applied to the apparatus for supplying the developer to the photosensitive medium. That is, the developer conveying apparatus for supplying the developer toward the photosensitive medium or the developing member may move in the first direction as in the above-described embodiment while the developer is transported in the second direction having a constant angle with the first direction. It can be installed to regulate the spacing and width of the slit. In particular, the angle between the first direction and the second direction is more effective.

In addition, the above embodiment relates to a structure in which the cleaning device and the waste developer conveying member are installed adjacent to each other, but according to the embodiment, the developer removed by the cleaning device is transferred along a constant supply line, and the developer is transferred to the waste developer. When transferring to the accommodation space, it is also possible to install the waste developer transporting member according to the embodiment of the present invention on the path to be transported to the waste developer accommodation space.

In addition, the cartridge in this embodiment is composed of an integrated cartridge including a developing unit, a photosensitive medium, a cleaning device, and the like, but according to the method of the embodiment, a developing unit, a developing member, a photosensitive medium, a charging member, a cleaning device, a developer chamber, etc. It is also applicable to a removable cartridge that selectively constitutes a waste developer container.

The present invention has been described in an exemplary manner. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Accordingly, unless stated otherwise, the invention may be practiced freely within the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 are a plan view and a perspective view showing a cleaning device and a waste developer transporting device in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing a waste developer conveying member and a holder in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a perspective view illustrating a waste developer conveying member, a holder, and a rotating member in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Image forming apparatus 40Y, 40M, 40C, 40K: Cartridge

80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K: Photosensitive medium 100: Developing unit

210: cleaning member 300: waste developer conveying member

310: housing 320: waste developer receiving portion

330: waste developer conveying member 332: slit

350: driving unit 370: rotating member

80 holder 390 elastic body

Claims (15)

A housing accommodating a developer; and And a developer transfer member for transferring a developer to or from the housing, The developer conveying member includes a plurality of slits arranged along a first direction, and the plurality of slits are inclined with respect to the first direction so that the developer conveying member conveys the developer in a second direction. Cartridge characterized in that the. The method of claim 1, And the width of the slit in the first direction is smaller than the moving width of the developer conveying member. The method of claim 1, And the interval between the slits in the first direction is smaller than the moving width of the developer conveying member. The method of claim 1, And the angle at which the slit is inclined relative to the first direction is between about 15 ° and 80 °. The method of claim 1, The drive unit is a cartridge, characterized in that it comprises a rotating member for transmitting power to the developer transfer member. The method of claim 5, And the rotating member has a cam member which protrudes from the rotating member and is provided such that the height of the protrusion is changed along the rotational direction of the rotating member. The method of claim 6, And the width of the slit is smaller than the height difference between the lowest and highest surfaces of the cam member. The method of claim 1, The drive unit is a cartridge, characterized in that it comprises an elastic body for restoring the developer transfer member to its original position. The method of claim 1, And a boss provided in the housing to guide the reciprocating motion of the developer transfer member. The method of claim 9, And the developer conveying member has a guide through hole engaging with the boss. The method of claim 10, And the size of the slit in the first direction is smaller than the size of the guide through hole. The method of claim 1, And the slits are arranged in a plurality of rows in the second direction. The method of claim 1, The cartridge further comprises a photosensitive medium, And the developer to be conveyed is a waste developer remaining on the photosensitive medium after image formation. The method of claim 1, The cartridge further comprises a photosensitive medium, And the developer to be conveyed is a developer supplied to the photosensitive medium for image formation. A photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; A developing unit supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive medium to form a visible image; A transfer unit to transfer an image on the photosensitive medium to a print medium; A cleaning device having a cleaning member installed at a tip thereof in contact with the photosensitive medium to remove waste developer remaining in the photosensitive medium; and Installed on the upper side of the cleaning member to receive the waste developer removed from the photosensitive medium by the cleaning member, and storing the waste developer conveying member reciprocating in the first direction and the waste developer conveyed by the waste developer conveying member. It includes; a waste developer conveying device having a waste developer containing portion, And the waste developer conveying member comprises slits arranged in the first direction and inclined with respect to the first direction.

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