MXPA98008597A - Electrostatographic process cartridge that has a grounding pin, photo-receiver, no metal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine having a copying volume capacity limited by the capacity of the reservoir. organic waste pigment. The process cartridge includes an elongate housing having walls defining a process chamber, and an endless rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and walls. The photoreceptor member has a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment, a conductive layer and a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber. The process cartridge also includes a high-voltage electrostatic charging device mounted to the elongate frame and along the path or path of the closed circuit to apply an electrostatic charge layer to the surface that contains or supports the image of the photoreceptor member. Means for forming on, and transferring from, the surface containing or supporting the image, an image of organic pigment, and means for transferring the image formed of organic pigment onto a surface. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a non-metallic electrically conductive grounding pin notched to the frame with the photoreceptor member to align and ground the photoreceptor member, to prevent the discharge current of the photoreceptor member from passing to a module. of image formation of an adjacent machine that forms the latent images on the surface that contains or supports the image charge

Description

ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC PROCESS CARTRIDGE THAT HAS A GROUNDING, PHOTO-RECEIVING, NON-METALLIC BOLT RELATED REQUESTS Cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as this: Attorney File Number D / 97267 entitled "Bolt Load Corotron with Optimal Dimensions for a Minimum Ozone Production" by Dhirendra C. Damj et al., Proxy File Number D / 97268 entitled "Deviation Connector Revealed With Integrated Bearing Bracket" by Dhirendra C. Damj et al., Attorney Producer Number D / 97329 entitled "Corotron Load Module Bolt For Use With A Print Cartridge "by Ajay Kumar et al., Proxy File Number D / 9-7329Q1 entitled" Charging Device Having an Electrode With Integrated Electric Connector "by Ajay Kumar et al. Attorney File D / 97329Q2 entitled "Charging Device That Has a Shield with an Integrated Electrical Connector" by Ajay Kumar et al., Attorney File Number D / 97331 entitled "Ch Replaced, Variable-Size Organic Pigment Tank Loops For Print Cartridges "by Dhirendra C. Dam i et al., Attorney Docket Number D / 97332 entitled" Fast Change Molded Photoreceptor Support "by Ajay Kumar et REF: 28291 al., Proxy File Number D / 97333 entitled "Print Cartridge with Flat Drive Train" by Ajay Kumar et al., and Proxy File Number D / 97478 entitled "Print Cartridge With Spring Separating Roller Molded Developer in Cantilever "by Ajay Kumar et al. Additionally, cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as the present one: humero of Attorney File D / 97330 entitled "Process Cartridge That Includes Process Components That Have Critical Image Quality and Procedure to Lengthen Life From the Regions Acting on the Tour "by Dhirendra C. Da ji et al., Attorney File Number D / 97334 entitled" Process Cartridge That Includes a Part That Defines a Handle of a Paper Path for Machine "by Dhirendra C. Damj i et al., Attorney File Number D / 97351 entitled "Electrostatographic Process Cartridge That Has a Grounding Pin, Photoreceptor, Non-Metallic" by Daniel A. Chiesa et al., Proxy File Number D / 97352 entitled "Limited Life Electrostatic Process Cartridge Having a Sub-assembly of Used Organic Pigment Electrodeposition" by Daniel A. Chiesa et al., Issue Number Attorney D / 97353 entitled "Process Cartridge Having a Force Resulting from the Drive Assembly That Counters the Member" by Dhirendra C. Damj et al., Attorney File Number D / 97354 entitled "Process Cartridge That Includes A Defect in the Reinforcing Band That Prevents the Used Organic Pigment from Moving the Endless "by Dhirendra C. Dam i et al., Proxy File Number D / 97355 entitled" Process Cartridge That Includes a Developer Housing that Defines Part of a Machine Paper Tour "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., And Proxy File Number D 57 entitled '" All-in-One Process Cartridge That Includes Photoreceptor and Procedure Components That Have Regions Acting On the Quality of the Image, Relatively Critical "by Ajay Kumar et al.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to electrostatic reproduction machines, and more particularly to an all-in-one electrostatic process cartridge of extendable and economical capacity to easily adapt to the use of a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines having different volume capacities. and life cycles of consumer products, and that include a grounding pin in the non-metallic photoreceptor. Generally, the electrostatic reproduction process, as practiced in electrostatic reproduction machines, includes charging a photoconductive member to a substantially uniform potential to sensitize the surface thereof. A charged portion of the photoconductive surface is exposed in an exposure station to a luminous image of an original document to be reproduced. Typically, an original document to be reproduced is placed in register, either manually or by means of an automatic document manipulator, on an exposure glass for such an exhibition. Exposing an image of an original document as such in the exposure station records a latent electrostatic image of the original image on the photoconductor member. The recorded latent image is subsequently revealed using a developing apparatus by contacting a dry developer material or charged liquid in contact with the latent image. Commonly used are two component and one component developer materials. A typical two-component dry developer material has magnetic carrier granules with organic pigment particles fused triboelectrically attached thereto. A single component dry developer material typically comprising only organic pigment particles can also be used. The organic pigment image formed by such development is subsequently transferred in a transfer station onto a copy sheet fed to such a transfer station, and over which the image of organic pigment particles is subsequently heated and fixed permanently to form a " original on paper "of the original image. It is well known how to provide a number of elements and components, of an electrostatic reproduction machine, in the form of a unit replaceable by the consumer or user (CRU). Typically such units are each formed as a cartridge that can be inserted or removed from the frame of the machine by a consumer or user. Reprocessing machines such as copiers and printers commonly include consumer materials such as organic pigment, volume limiting components such as an organic waste pigment container and life cycle limiting components such as a photoreceptor and a cleaning device. Because these elements of the copier or printer must be replaced frequently, it is very likely that they will be incorporated into a replaceable cartridge like the previous one. Therefore, there are various types and sizes of cartridges, ranging from cartridges of a single machine element such as an organic pigment cartridge, to electrostatic cartridges of transfer process and organic all-in-one pigment imaging. The design, particularly of an all-in-one cartridge, can be very expensive and complicated due to the need to optimize the life cycles of the different elements, as well as to integrate all the elements included, without deteriorating the quality of the image at the same time. This is particularly true for all-in-one process cartridges to be used in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines that have different volume capacities and elements that have different life cycles. There is, therefore, a need for an all-in-one process cartridge of extendable and economical capacity, which produces quality images, which is easily adapted for use in several machines in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines having different capacities of volume and elements with different life cycles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine having a volume capacity of copying limited by the capacity of the waste organic pigment deposit. The process cartridge includes an elongate housing having walls defining a process chamber; and an endless rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and walls. The photoreceptor member has a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment, a conductive layer and a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber. The process cartridge also includes a high-voltage electrostatic charging device mounted to the elongate frame and along the path or path of the closed circuit to apply an electrostatic charge layer to the surface that contains or supports the image of the photoreceptor member; means for forming on, and transferring from, the surface containing or supporting the image, an organic pigment image;, and means for transferring the image formed of organic pigment onto a substrate. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a non-metallic electrically conductive grounding bolt mounted to the frame and in contact with the photoreceptor member to align and ground the photoreceptor member to prevent the discharge current from the photoreceptor member from passing. to an imaging module of an adjacent machine that forms the latent images on the surface that contains or supports the loaded image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the invention presented above, reference is made to the drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a vertical, front illustration of an exemplary compact electrostatic reproduction machine, comprising modules that they are aligned mutually armed separately in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan perspective view of the housing of the CRU module or process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the developer sub-assembly of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1 with the bottom of the unattached developer housing; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the open bottom of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the different sub-assemblies of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a vertical section (front to back) of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the non-metallic grounding pin for the photoreceptor of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an exemplary, compact, non-frame, electro-thermostatic reproducing machine comprising mutually aligned modules, assembled separately, according to the present invention. The compact machine 20 does not have a frame, which means that it does not have a separate machine frame to which to mount the process electrostatic subsystems, aligned with the frame, and consequently aligned in mutual relation, as is typically the case in conventional machines. Instead, the architecture of the compact machine 20 is comprised of a number of mutually aligned, individually aligned machine modules that include several active, pre-aligned electrostatic process subsystems. As shown, the frameless machine 20 comprises at least one reinforced copy sheet feed module (CIM) 22. Preferably, the machine 20 comprises a pair of copy sheet feed modules, a primary or primary module. , the CIM 22, and an auxiliary module, the (ACIM) 24, each of which has a set of legs 23 that can support the machine 20 on a 'surface, allowing, accordingly, that each CIM 22, 24 form a base of the machine 20. As also shown, each copy sheet feed module (CIM, ACIM) includes a modular frame 26 and a stacking tray assembly and a copy sheet lifting cassette 28 which moves by sliding inwardly and outwardly relative to the frame of the module 26. When, as is preferred here, the machine 20 includes two modules for feeding the copy sheets, the most basic module is considered the auxiliary module (the ACIM), and the uppermost module, which mounts and aligns with each other against the base module is considered the primary module (the CIM). The machine 20 then comprises an armed electronic control and a power supply module (ECS / PS) 30, which as shown is mounted on, and aligned mutually against the CIM 22 (which is preferably, the top or only the copy sheet feed module). A module of armed imaging forming the latent image 32 is then mounted on and aligned against the ECS / PS module. The ECS / PS 30 module includes all controls and power supplies (not shown) for all modules and procedures of the machine 20. It also includes an image processing line unit (IPP) 34 for handling and processing digitized images of a Frame Input Scanner (RIS) 36, and generate processed digital images from a Frame Output Scanner (ROS) 38. As shown, the RIS 36, the ROS 38, and a light source 33, armed by separated in a frame of the imaging module 35, comprise the imaging module 32. The ECS / PS 30 module also includes interconnection boards without scaffolding and inter-modular connectors (not shown), which provide all the pathways for energy and logic to the rest of the modules of the machine. The interconnection board (PWB) (not shown) connects the boards of the ECS controller and the power supply (not shown) to the intermodular connectors, which also locates all the connectors of the other modules in such a way that their connectors coupling could be automatically plugged into the ECS / PS module during the final assembly of the machine 20. Importantly, the ECS / PS module 30 includes a modular frame 40 to which the active components of the module are mounted as mentioned above, and forming a covered portion of the machine 20, which is also located, aligns with each other, and mounts to the adjacent armed modules, such as the CIM 22 and the imaging module 32. The reinforced copy-sheet feed modules 22, 24, the ECS / PS module 30, and the imaging module 32, mounted as mentioned above, define a cavity 42. The machine 20 includes, in an important way , an all-in-one process cartridge module or CRU 44, which can be removably inserted and mounted within the cavity 42, and which is mutually aligned with, and operatively connected to the CIM frame, the ECS / PS and the image forming modules 20, 30, 32. Furthermore, as shown, the machine 20 includes an armed fuser module 46, which is mounted on top of the process cartridge module 44, as well as adjacent to an end of the imaging module 32. The melter module 46 comprises a pair of fuser rollers 48, 50, and at least one output roller 52 for moving a sheet containing an image through, and out of, the module from the melter 46 to an exit or exit tray 54. The melter module also includes a heating lamp 56, temperature sensing means (not shown), paper travel manipulation deflectors (not shown), and a module 58 frame which is enclosed The active components of the module are assembled, as mentioned above, and form a covered portion of the machine 20, which is located, mutually aligned and mounted to the adjacent armed modules, such as the imaging module 32 and the module of the process cartridge 44. The machine then includes a reinforced door module of the active component 60 which is rotatably mounted at a pivot point or pivot 62 at one end of the CIM 22. The door module 60 as found mounted, rotates from a substantially closed vertical position to an almost horizontal open position to provide access to the process cartridge module 44, as well as undoing the jammed sheets that are being fed from the CIM 22. The door module 60 comprises the active components which include a diverter feeder assembly 64, sheet registration rollers 66, organic pigment image transfer and detachment devices 68, and the output or output tray of the merged image 54. The door module 60 also includes the coupling components for the drive and connectors electrical (not shown), and importantly, a module frame 70 to which the active components pJ module are mounted as described above, and which forms a covered portion of the machine 20, and also locates, aligns with each other and mounts to the adjacent armed modules, such as the CIM 22, the process cartridge module 44 and the fuser module 46. More specifically, the machine 20 is a desktop digital copier, and each of the modules 22, 24, 30, 32, 44, 48, 60 is a high-level assembly comprising a stand-alone frame and electrostatic process active components specified for that resource, and enabled as a product Complete and transportable. It is believed that some of the existing digital and lighting lens reproducing machines may contain selective electrostatic modules distributed to be mounted to the machine frame, such that they could be designed and manufactured by a distributor. However, there are no such machines that do not have a separate machine frame, but are comprised of armed modules that are designed and distributed each as autonomous, specifiable modular units (ie, specified separately with interface inputs and outputs). ), probable and transportable, and that are shipped and distributed specifically to allow all critical electrostatic functions after a simple assembly. A unique advantage of the machine 20 of the present invention is that its autonomous, specifiable, probable and transportable modular units allow a high level of availability to a small set of dedicated specialized module production distributors. Such a high level of availability greatly optimizes the quality, the total cost and the delivery time of the final product, the machine 20. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the CRU or process cartridge module 44 comprises, of In general, a sub-assembly of module 2, a sub-assembly of photoresistor 74, a sub-assembly of load 76, a sub-assembly of developer 78 including a source of new developer material, a sub-assembly of cleaning 80 to remove the residual organic pigment as organic waste pigment from a surface of the photoreceptor, and a deposit sub-assembly of the waste organic pigment 82 to store the waste organic pigment. The housing subassembly of the CRU module 72 or process cartridge module 44 provides, importantly, and includes support, locating and aligning structures, as well as drive components for the process cartridge module 44. Referring still to FIGURE 1, the operation of an image forming cycle of the machine 20 using the all-in-one process cartridge module 44, can generally be described briefly as follows. Initially, a photoreceptor in the form of a photoconducting cylinder 84 of the user replaceable unit (CRU) or a process cartridge module 44, which rotates in the direction of the arrow 86, is loaded by the load sub-assembly 76. The The loaded portion of the cylinder is then transported to an imaging / exposure light 88 of the ROS 38 which forms a latent image on the cylinder 84, which corresponds to an image of a document placed on an exposure glass 90, via the module image formation 32. It should also be understood that the image formation module 32 can be easily changed from a digital scanning module to an image forming module with illumination lenses. The portion of the cylinder 84 containing a latent image is then rotated towards the sub-assembly of developer 78, wherein the latent image is developed with a developer material such as with a charged single component magnetic organic pigment, using a magnetic developer roller 92 of the process cartridge module 44. The image developed on the cylinder 84 is then rotated. to an almost vertical transfer point 94 wherein the organic pigment image is transferred to a copy sheet substrate 96 fed from the CIM 22 or the ACIM 24 along a path of the copy sheet or substrate 98. In in this case, the detachment device 68 of the door module 60 is provided to load the rear part of the copy sheet substrate (not shown) at the transfer point 94, to attract the charged organic pigment image of the photoconductive cylinder 84. on the copy sheet substrate. The copy sheet substrate with the image of organic pigment transferred thereon is then directed towards the melter module 46, wherein the hot melter roll 48 and the pressure roller 50 rotationally cooperate to heat, melt and fix the organic pigment image on the copy sheet substrate. The copy sheet substrate can then, as is well known, be selectively transported to the output tray 54 or other subsequent fusing operation. The portion of the cylinder 84 from which the developed organic pigment image was transferred is then advanced to the cleaning sub-assembly 80 where the organic pigment and the residual charge on the cylinder 34 are removed therefrom. The image forming cycle of the machine 20 using the cylinder 84 can then be repeated to form and transfer another image of organic pigment, when the cleaned portion is again under the load sub-assembly 76. The aspects of the detailed and specific advantages of the structure and operation of the CRU or all-in-one process cartridge module 44 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. As shown, the all-in-one process cartridge module CRU 44 generally includes six sub-assemblies comprising a housing sub-assembly in module 72 (FIGURE 2); The cleaning sub-assembly 80; the sub-mounting of the photoreceptor 74; the load sub-assembly 76; the sub-assembly of developer 78 (FIGURE 3); and the scrap organic pigment deposit sub-assembly 82. Generally, the function of the CRU or all-in-one process cartridge module 44 in the machine 20 is to electrostatically form a latent image, reveal such a latent image in an image. of organic pigment through the development of the organic pigment, and transfer of the image of organic pigment without fusing on a printing medium, such as a sheet of paper. The CRU or process cartridge module is accessible from the left side to an operator facing the CIM 22 by opening the door module 60 (FIGURE 1). Once the door module is opened, an operator or user can remove or insert the CRU or the process cartridge module 44 with one hand. Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, the housing sub-assembly of module 72 is illustrated therein (FIGURE 2). As shown, it comprises a module housing of generally rectangular shape and inverted channel 100 having a first side wall 102, a second side and opposite wall 104, an upper wall 106 including a substantially horizontal portion 108 and a nearly vertical portion 110 defining a rear end in relief 112 (further considered in relation to the process cartridge 44 that is inserted in the cavity 42). There is no rear wall, thereby resulting in an open rear end 114 for mounting the sub-mounting of the photoreceptor 74. The channel-shaped module housing also includes a front end wall 116 that is connected at an angle to the top wall 106. The housing of the channel-shaped module 100 of course does not have a bottom wall, and consequently when inverted, it defines a grooved region or partially closed process chamber 118 that opens wide to mount the sub-assembly of developer 78 (FIGURE 3). The upper wall 106 and the wall of the front end 116 each include a first cut 120 formed, through its joining corner to partially define a first path of light 122? I (ij!.? 1) μ. _ to lo lu < n > . *? μo_. u ion 88 of ROS 38 of the imaging module 32. The top wall 106 also includes a second cut 124 formed therein at the junction angle between the horizontal 108 and the near vertical portions 110 thereof for mounting the load sub-assembly 76 (FIGURE 5), and to partially define a second path of light 126 (FIGURES 1 and 6) for a deletion light 128 which is focused towards the area of the photoreceptor at the rear end in relief 112 the housing of the module 100. Importantly, the housing of the module 100 includes two section surfaces cross section of the upper wall 130, 132 defining the second cut 124, and one 130, of those surfaces of the wall of cross section, has a desired angle 134 (in relation to the surface of the photoreceptor) to mount and fix a cutter blade. cleaning 138 (FIGURE 6) of the cleaning sub-assembly 80. Connecting or joining members 140, 142 at the rear end in relief 112 and extending from the first and second walls are provided. s side 102, 104 respectively, for attaching a handle of the module 144 to the housing of the module 100. As indicated above, the module housing 100 is the main structure of the CRU or all-in-one process cartridge module 44, and supports importantly all the other sub-subassemblies (cleaning sub-assembly 80, load sub-assembly 76, developer sub-assembly 78 and deposit sub-assembly 82) of the all-in-one process cartridge module 44. As such, it was designed to withstand stresses due to different dynamic forces of the sub-assemblies, for example, to provide the reaction force required for the sub-assembly of developer 78. Because it is located just about 3 mm below the melter module 46, is therefore made of a suitable plastic material to withstand the relatively high heat generated by the melter module. Mounts (not shown) of the developer sub-assembly within the grooved portion of the module housing sub-assembly are located such that the upper wall 106 of the module housing defines a desired separation comprising the first light path 122 between it and the upper wall 146 of the sub-assembly of the developer. Similarly, the rear end of the relief 112 of the upper wall 1C6 of the module housing is also such that it defines a desired separation between the load sub-assembly 76 and the photoreceptor or cylinder 84, when both are mounted to the rear end in relief 112 of the housing of the module 100. Additionally, the housing of the module 100 provides rigidity and support to the entire module of the process cartridge 44, and then the assembly self-aligns the CRU or process cartridge module 44 relative to the modules of the module. contact such as the CIM 22 and the module? CS / PS 30. Referring in particular to FIGURE 2, the first side wall 102 includes the electrical connectors 148, 150 to supply power from the ECS / PS 30 module (FIGURE 1) via the reservoir sub-assembly 82 to the load subassembly 76. It also includes an electrical connector 152 for supplying electrical deviation to the sub-assembly of the developer 78, as well as a member d and alignment 154 for aligning the detachment device 68 (FIGURE 1) to the photoreceptor. Also as shown, the first side wall 102 further includes an open non-conductive retention device 156 for receiving an electrically conductive grounding pin 160 for the photoreceptor 84. Importantly, the first side wall 102 further includes mounting members 162, 164, 166 for mounting the tank subassembly 82 to the housing of the module 100, and an opening 168 for mounting an endless 170 of the cleaning sub-assembly 80 (FIGURE 6). The aperture 168 also passes the waste organic pigment received from the photoreceptor 84 at the rear end of the relief 112, towards the reservoir assembly 82, when mounted as mentioned above. Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated the sub-assembly of developer 78 of the process cartridge module 44 with an expandable bottom member 172 not attached for the internal development of the developer subassembly. As shown, the developer sub-assembly 78 comprises a generally rectangular developer housing 174 having the lower member 172, the upper portion 146, a first side 176, a second opposing side 178, a front end 180 (in relation to the insert of the cartridge), and a rear end 182. The developer housing 174 is for containing the developer material, such as, the single-component magnetic organic pigment (not shown), and additionally accommodates the magnetic developer roller 9? (FIGURE 1), a developing deviation application device 184, and a pair of agitators of developer material or organic pigment 186, 188. As shown in FIGURE 4, the sub-assembly of developer 78 is mounted to the module housing 100, and within the grooved region 118. With the lower member 172 of the developer housing removed for purposes of illustration only, the agitators 186, 188 can be clearly seen. Also in FIGURE 4, the photoreceptor or cylinder 84 is shown. mounted within the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100, as well as, the handle of the module 144 attached to the side walls 102, 104 at the embossed rear end 112. All the tank sub-assembly 82 is further shown with. an external surface 190 of its inner wall 192, mounted to the first side wall 102 of the housing of the module l r t, external surface 194 of the external wall 196 of the tank assembly also s e see clearly, the inner wall 192 and the outer wall 196 partially define the reservoir cavity (not shown) to contain the organic waste pigment received., as mentioned earlier. Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is presented an exploded perspective view of the different sub-assemblies, as mentioned above, of the CRU or process cartridge module 44. As shown, the handle of the module 144 can be attached to the members of the shroud 140, 142 at the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100, and the reservoir sub-assembly 82 can be mounted to the first side wall 102 of the cartridge housing. The developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted within the grooved region 118 of the housing of the module 100, and is partially seen through the first cut 120. Advantageously, the sub-assembly of the developer is placed in the grooved region 118 so that the upper part 146 (FIGURE 3) of the developer sub-assembly and the inner side of the side wall 106 of the module housing define the first light path 122 for the exposure light 88 of the ROS 38 (FIGURE 1). As also shown, the load sub-assembly 7ß can be mounted, in the second cut 124, to the housing of the module 100, and includes a slot 198, through the load sub-assembly, which defines the part of the second light path 126 for The deletion light 128 passes to the photoreceptor 84. Referring next to FIGURE 6, it shows a vertical section (from back to front) of the CRU or process cartridge module 44 as seen along the plane 6-6 of FIGURE 5. As shown, the developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted within the grooved region 11? * Of the sub-assembly of the module 72 as defined in part by the front end wall 116. , the second side wall 104 and the upper wall 106 of the module housing sub-assembly. The handle of the module 144 as it is attached to the mounting members 140, 142, (only one of which is visible), forms a portion of the path of the sheet or paper 98 of the machine 20 (FIGURE 1) by being separated from one another. distance 200 of the photoreceptor 84 at the embossed rear end 112 of the module housing 100. The photoreceptor or cylinder 84 is mounted to side walls 102, 104, (only one of which is visible), and as shown is located within the embossed rear end 112 and rotates in the direction of arrow 86. load sub-assembly 76 is mounted within the second cut 124 in the upper wall 106 and includes the slot 198 defining part of the second light path 126 for the erasing light 128 to pass to the photoreceptor 84. Upstream of the sub-assembly 76, the cleaning sub-assembly 80, which includes the cleaning blade 138 and the endless material that removes the organic waste pigment 170, is mounted inside the embossed rear end 112, and in contact with the photoreceptor 84 for its cleaning. As further shown, the upper wall 106 of the housing of the module 100 is separated from the upper part 146 in the sub-assembly of the developer 78, thereby defining the part of the first light path 122 for the exposure light 88 of ROS 38. (FIGURE 1) . The first light path 122 is located as if it were incident on the photoreceptor at a point downstream of the load sub-assembly 76. The front part 130, the upper part 146 and the lower member 176 of the developer sub-unit define a chamber 202, which has an opening 204, to contain the developer material is not shown). The first and second agitators 186, 188 are shown within the chamber 202 to mix and move the developer material toward the opening 204. The developer material biasing device 184 and a loading molding and doctor blade 206 are mounted in the opening 204 As shown, the magnetic developing roller 92 is mounted in the aperture 204 to receive the loaded and measured developer material from such an aperture, and to transport such developing material toward a developing relationship with the photoreceptor 84. Referring now to FIGS. FIGURES 2, 4, 5 and 7, there is shown the open non-conductive retaining device 156 for receiving the electrically conductive grounding pin 160, and the conductive grounding pin 160 for the photoreceptor 84. The connecting bolt a Conductive earth 160 is advantageously made of a molded, non-metallic conductive plastic material. It has an elongated cylindrical body portion 210, and a contact pin indicated 212 for contacting and aligning the photoreceptor 84, and a mounting tab 213. Importantly, the grounding pin 160 includes a connector contact of high voltage current return 214 located in the middle part along the length of the portion of the body 210 to ground the photoreceptor back to the ECS / FS 30 module (FIGURE 1), thereby preventing the current from passing to the frame of the machine imaging device 35. As shown, the non-metallic grounding pin 160 is mounted through the non-conductive walls of the reservoir sub-assembly 82, so that the tip 212 contacts the a conductive layer of the photoreceptor 84. The use of conductive plastic material in the manufacture of the grounding pin 160 also advantageously allows the bolt to be produced com or a unitary, single part, instead of a multi-component assembly. The conductive properties replace the need to insert by molding or mount a metallic conductor on the plastic pin. The design specifications for the ground pin 160 do not require current to pass through the locator of the process cartridge module or the portion of the alignment frame onto the frame of the imaging device 35, while providing a path conductive return to reconnect the photoreceptor to ground in the ECS / PS 30 module. Data collected using a test printer with a variable resistance between the photoreceptor and the ground connection showed that 100K Ohms or less was shown to be non-functional or to have print quality defects. The current of the photoreceptor was successfully removed through the ground pin 160 before reaching the imaging module 32. As can be seen, an electrostatic process cartridge has been provided that can be detachably mounted on a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine that has a volume capacity limited by the capacity of the waste organic pigment deposit. The process cartridge includes an elongated plastic housing that has an external surface, and an internal surface that define a process chamber; and an endless rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and housing. The photoreceptor member has a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment, a conductive layer and a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber. The process cartridge also includes a high-voltage electrostatic charging device mounted to the elongate housing and along the path or path of the closed circuit to apply an electrostatic charge layer to the surface that contains or supports the image of the photoreceptor member; means for forming on, and transferring from, the surface containing or supporting the image, an organic pigment image; and means for transferring the image formed of organic pigment onto a substrate. Importantly, the process cartridge includes an electrically conductive, non-metallic grounding pin mounted to the frame and in contact with the photoreceptor member for aligning and grounding the photoreceptor member to prevent the member discharge current. The photoreceptor is passed to an imaging module of the adjacent machine that forms the latent images on the surface that contains or supports the loaded image. Although the embodiment of the present invention described herein is preferred, it should be appreciated from the teachings herein that various alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be made to it by those skilled in the art, with which it is intended to be covered by the following claims: It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (5)

1. An electrostatic process cartridge that can be releasably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine having a copying volume capacity limited by the capacity of the waste organic pigment reservoir, the Process cartridge is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an elongate housing having walls defining a process chamber; (b) an endless rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and to the walls, the photoreceptor member has a surface that contains or supports images to retain an image formed of organic pigment, and a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber, and a conductive layer; (c) a high voltage electrostatic charging device mounted to the elongate housing and along the path or path of the closed circuit to apply an electrostatic charge layer to the surface that contains or supports the image of the photoreceptor member; (d) means for forming on, and transferring from, the surface containing or supporting the image, an organic pigment image; (e) means for transferring the image formed of organic pigment onto a substrate; and (f) an electrically conductive, non-metallic grounding pin mounted to the housing and in contact with the photoreceptor member for aligning and grounding the photoreceptor member, to prevent the discharge current from the photoreceptor member from passing to the module. imaging of an adjacent machine that forms the latent images on the surface that contains or supports the loaded image. The electrostatic process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive, non-metallic ground connection pin is made as a unitary, single component of molded plastic material. The electrostatic process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive ground connection pin has an elongated cylindrical body portion and a contact tip indicated to contact and align a photoreceptor member. The electrostatic process cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that the conductive ground connection pin includes a high voltage current return connector contact formed in the middle portion along the length of the elongated body. The electrostatic process cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that the conductive ground connection pin is mounted through a reservoir sub-assembly and through a non-conducting opening in a housing in contact with a conductive layer of the member photoreceptor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules forming part of an electrostatic reproduction machine having a copying volume capacity limited by the capacity of the organic waste pigment reservoir. The process cartridge includes an elongate housing having walls defining a process chamber; and an endless rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and walls. The photoreceptor member has a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment, a conductive layer and a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber. The process cartridge also includes a high voltage electrostatic charging device mounted to the elongate frame and along the path or path of the closed circuit to apply an electrostatic charge layer to the surface that contains or supports the image of the photoreceptor member; means for forming on, and transferring from, the surface containing or supporting the image, an organic pigment image; and means for transferring the image formed of organic pigment onto a surface. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a non-metallic electrically conductive grounding bolt mounted to the frame and in contact with the photoreceptor member to align and ground the photoreceptor member to prevent the discharge current from the photoreceptor member. pass to an image forming module of an adjacent machine that forms the latent images on the surface that contains or supports the loaded image.