MXPA98008622A - Process cartridge that has a member that counters the strength resulting from the assembly of accionamie - 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, the process cartridge is characterized in that it comprises: (a) a housing of elongated plastic having a first side and a second side, an internal surface defining a process chamber, (b) a rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and the housing and having a surface that supports or contains an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment; (c) a rotating developer member mounted to the housing, and forming a critical developing space with the photoreceptor member within the process chamber to enable the development of the organic pigment image to be prevented the surface that contains or supports the image; (d) a drive assembly mounted on the second side of the opener for coupling to the photoreceptor member; (e) a gear train mounted on the second side of the housing, and coupled to the drive assembly and the developer member to transmit the drive to the developer member, the gear train as mounted includes a gear of the developer member, and has a resultant driving force that urges the engagement of the developer member away from the photoreceptor member, thereby tending to expand the critical developing space, and (f) a counterbalancing member The resulting member mounted to the second side of the housing to absorb the resultant driving force, the member counteracting the resultant force includes a wall and a retaining opening for accurately retaining the developer member in a predetermined aligned position to maintain the developing space critical, and therefore ensure a developing quality of the uniform organic pigment image

Description

PROCESS CARTRIDGE THAT HAS A MEMBER THAT COUNTERS THE STRENGTH RESULTING FROM THE OPERATING ASSEMBLY RELATED REQUESTS Cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as this: Proxy File Number D / 97267 entitled 'Bolt Load Corotron with Optimal Dimensions for a Minimum Ozone Production' by Dhirendra C. Damj et al. al., Proxy File Number D / 97268 entitled 'Developing Deviation Connector With Integrated Bearing Bracket' by Dhirendra C. Damj et al., Attorney Producer Number D / 97329 entitled 'Charge Corotron Modulus Bolt For Use With A Print Cartridge "by Ajay Kumar et al., Proxy File Number D / 97329Q1 entitled 'Charge Device Having a Corotron with Integrated Electric Connector" by Ajay Kumar et al., Proxy File Number D / 97329Q2 entitled 'Charging Device Having a Shield with an Integrated Electrical Connector' by Ajay Kumar et al., Attorney File Number D / 97331 entitled 'Cha Replaceable Organic Pigment Deposits, Variable Size For Print Cartridges "by D irerend C. Da ji et al., Attorney File Number D / 97332 entitled 'Rapid Change Molded Photoreceptor Support" by Ajay Kumar et al.

REF: 28268 al., Proxy File Number D / 97333 entitled 'Print Cartridge with Plane Drive Train' by Ajay Kumar et al., And Proxy File Number D / 97478 entitled 'Print Cartridge with Spring Separating The Cantilevered Cast Developer Roller "by Ajay Kumar et al. Additionally, cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as the present: Attorney File Number D / 97330 entitled 'Process Cartridge Including Process Components That Have Critical Image Quality and Procedure to Lengthen Life From the Regions Acting on the Tour "by Dhirendra C. Damj et al., Attorney File Number D / 97334 entitled 'Process Cartridge Including a Part That Defines a Handle of a Paper Run 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., Expedie Number Attorney D / 97353 entitled 'Process Cartridge Having a Force Resulting from the Drive Assembly Countering 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. Damj et al., Proxy File Number D / 97355 entitled" Process Cartridge That Includes a Defining Developer Housing Part of a Machine Paper Tour "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., And Proxy File Number D / 97357 entitled '" All-in-One Process Cartridge Including 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 process cartridge that is extensible in its capacity and economical to be easily adapted for use in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines having different capacities of volume and life cycles of consumer materials. Specifically, the invention relates to a process cartridge having a member that counteracts the resultant force of the drive assembly to ensure the development of a uniform high quality organic pigment image.

In general, the electrostatic reproduction process, as practiced in the 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 a. to be reproduced is placed in register, either manually or by means of an automatic document manipulator, on an exposure glass for such exposure. 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 fusible organic pigment particles adhered triboelectrically 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 for 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 included elements, 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 on 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 In accordance with the present invention, an electrostatic process cartridge removably mountable in a cavity defined by the coupled modules forming part of an electrostatic reproduction machine is provided. The process cartridge includes an elongated plastic housing having a first side and a second side, as well as an internal surface defining a process chamber. It also includes a rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and housing and having a surface that supports or contains an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment.; a rotating developer member mounted to the housing, and forming a critical developing space with the photoreceptor member within the process chamber to enable the development of the organic pigment image on the surface containing the image to be prevented; a drive assembly mounted on the second side of the housing for engaging the photoreceptor member; and a gear train mounted on the second side of the housing, and coupled to the drive assembly and the developer member to transmit the drive to the developer member. The gear train as assembled includes a gear of the developer member, and has a resultant driving force that pushes the gear of the developer member away from the photoreceptor member, thereby tending to expand the critical developing space. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a member that counteracts the resultant force mounted to the second side of the housing to absorb the resultant drive force. The member that counteracts the resultant force includes a wall and a retaining aperture for accurately retaining the developer member in a predetermined aligned position to maintain the critical developing space, and therefore ensure a developing quality of the image of the developer. uniform organic pigment.

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 mutually aligned modules assembled 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 from the bottom of the sub-assembly of the CRU developer or process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1 with the bottom of the unattached developer housing; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view in the open bottom of the CRU or process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the different sub-assemblies of the CRU or process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a vertical section (front to back) of the CRU or module of the process cartridge of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 7 is a diagram in partial elevation of the photoreceptor and the developer roller showing the space or distance to avoid developing between them; FIGURE 8 is a diagram showing a driving gear, the gear of the photoreceptor and the gear of the developer roller, and the auxiliary reactive force; and FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the clamp that counteracts the reactive force of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1, in accordance with 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 electrostatic reproduction machine, without frame, comprising mutually aligned modules, assembled separately, according to the present invention. The compact machine 20 has no 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, thereby allowing, appropriately, that each CIM 22 , 24 forms 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 it moves by sliding inwards and outwards in relation 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) , ye 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). An armed imaging module 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 interconnecting boards without frame and intermodular connectors (not shown), which provide all power paths logical 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) in the intermodular connectors, which also locates all locates 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, assembled as mentioned above, define a cavity 42. The machine 20 includes, as an important ante, a process cartridge module or all-in-one 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, 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 one end of the module. 32 The fuser 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 of 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 to which they are located on the active components of the module, as mentioned above, and forming 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 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 being fed from the CIM 22. The door module 60 comprises the active components that include a diverter feeder assembly 64, sheet 66 registration rollers, organic pigment image transfer and detachment devices 68, and the exit or output tray of the merged image 54. The door module 60 also includes the coupling components for the drive and electrical connectors (not shown), and importantly, a module frame 70 to which the active components of the module are mounted as described above, and which forms a covered portion of the machine 20, and is also located, mutually aligned and mounted 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 an autonomous frame and electrostatic process active components specified for such resource, and enabled as a complete and transportable product. It is believed that some of the existing digital reproduction and lighting lens 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, in general , a module housing sub-assembly 72, a photoreceptor subassembly 74, a load subassembly 76, a sub-assembly of developer 78 that includes a source of new developer material, a cleaning sub-assembly 80 to remove the residual organic pigment as an organic pigment from scrap of a photoreceptor surface, 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 or photoreceptor member having a photoconductive surface that supports or contains an image to support an image formed of organic pigment (shown in the form of a photoconductive cylinder 84) of the user replaceable unit (CRU) or a module of Process cartridge 44, which rotates in the direction of arrow 86, is loaded by load sub-assembly 76. The loaded portion of the cylinder is then transported to an image forming / light 88 of ROS 38 which forms an image latent on the cylinder 84, corresponding to an image of a document placed on an exposure glass 90, via the imaging module 32. It should also be understood that the imaging module 32 can be easily changed from a module of digital scanning to an imaging module with lighting 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 backside 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 revealed 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 84 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, this comprises a module housing of generally rectangular shape and inverted channel 100 made of a plastic material and having a first side wall 102, a second opposite side wall 104, an upper wall 106 including a substantially horizontal portion 108. and an almost vertical portion 110 defining a rear end in relief 112 (posterior 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 front end wall 116 each include a first cut 120 formed through its joining corner to partially define a first light path 122 (FIGURE 1) for the exposure light 88 of the ROS of the module. imaging 32. The top wall 106 also includes a second cut 124 formed therein at the junction angle between the horizontal 108 and the nearly vertical portions 110 thereof for mounting the load sub-assembly 76 (FIGURE 5), and for partially defining a second light path 126 (FIGURES I and ß) for a deletion light 128 that is focused towards the photoreceptor area at the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100. Importantly, the housing of the module 100 includes two cross-sectional surfaces of the upper wall 130, 132 defining the second cut 124, and one 130, of those surfaces of the cross-sectional wall, has a desired angle or 134 (in relation to the surface of the photoreceptor) for mounting and fixing a cleaning blade 138 (FIGURE 6) of the cleaning sub-assembly 80. Connecting or joining members 140, 142 are provided at the rear end in relief 112 and that extend from the first and second side walls 102, 104 respectively, to attach 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 entire process cartridge module. at one 44, and it substantially supports all other sub-operations (cleaning sub-assembly 80, load sub-assembly 76, development sub-assembly. 78 and reservoir sub-assembly 82) of the all-in-one process cartridge module 44. As such, it was designed to withstand stresses due to the different dynamic forces of the subassemblies, 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. The shrouds (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 106 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 after assembly mutually auto-aligns the CRU or process cartridge module 44 in relation to the contact modules such as the CIM 22 and the ECS / PS module 30. Referring in particular to FIGURE 2, the first side wall 102 includes the electrical connectors 148, 150 for supplying power from the ECS / PS 30 module (FIGURE 1) via the deposit sub-assembly 82 to the load sub-assembly 76. It also includes an electrical connector 152 for supplying electrical deviation to the sub-assembly of the developer 78, as well as a 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 retention device 156 for receiving an electrical 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 opening 168 also passes the organic deposit pigment received from the photoreceptor 84 at the rear end of the relief 112, towards the deposit sub-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 magnetic organic pigment of a single component (not shown), and additionally houses the magnetic developer roller 92 (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 developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted to the housing of the module 100, and within the grooved region 118. With the lower member 172 of the developer housing removed (for illustration purposes only), stirrers 186, 188 can be clearly seen. Also in FIGURE 4, the photoreceptor or cylinder R mounted within the raised 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 rear end in relief 112 are shown. The entire reservoir subassembly 82 is further shown with an external surface 190 of its internal wall 192, mounted to the first side wall 102 of the housing of the module 100. The external surface 194 of the external wall 196 of the reservoir assembly is also seen 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 a perspective view of the exploded 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 mounting members 140, 142 at the embossed rear end 112 of the module housing 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 76 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 that deletion light 128 passes to the photoreceptor f4. Referring next to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a vertical (back to front) section of the CRU or process cartridge module 44 as seen along plane 6-6 of FIGURE 5. As shown The developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted within the grooved region 118 of the housing sub-assembly of the module 72 as defined in part by the front end wall 116, the second side wall 104 and the top wall 106 of the housing sub-assembly. module. 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 (FIG. distance 200 of the photoreceptor 84 at the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100. The photoreceptor or cylinder 84 is mounted to the side walls 102, 104, (only one of which is visible), and as shown is located inside the rear end in relief 112 and rotates in the direction of arrow 86. The 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 deletion light 128 to pass to the photoreceptor 84. Upstream of the load sub-assembly 76, the cleaning sub-assembly 80, which includes the cleaning blade 138 and the worm that removes the organic waste pigment 170, it is mounted inside the embossed rear end 112, and in contact with the photoreceptor 84 for 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 180, the upper part 146 and the lower member 176 of the sub-assembly of the developer define a chamber 202, which has an opening 204, for containing the developer material (not shown). The first and second agitators 186, 188 are shown inside the chamber 202 to mix and move the developer material toward the opening 204.

The deflector device of the developer material 184 and a metering blade and feeder 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 of the developer. such aperture, and to convey such developing material towards, a developing relationship with the photoreceptor 84. Referring now to FIGURE 7, the developing ratio between the developer roller 92 and the photoreceptor 84, is defined by a space that avoids the development of the organic pigment 220, which is created by the separator caps 222 one of which is shown, which are mounted on the ends of the developer roller 92 to separate this precisely from the photoreceptor 84. Which variations in the size of the space 220 commonly result in an image density of non-uniform organic pigment, unacceptable and poor, and consequently poor quality. e of the image. As shown, the shaft 224 of the developer roller 92 is mounted through the second side 178 of the developer housing 174, and includes a developer gear 250 mounted outside a wall of the second side 178. The gearing of the developer roller 250 includes a stub 226, which is mounted on the bracket that counteracts the resultant force 240 of the present invention. The clamp 240 and the gears are sealed within the module of the process cartridge 44 by means of the second side wall 104 of the housing of the module 100 (FIGURE 4). Typically, the drive gears and photoreceptor of a process cartridge are mounted opposite one side of the cartridge to which is mounted an intermediate gear of the photoreceptor and the gear of the developing developer roller. Commonly this requires that the flanges of the roller gear of the developer be glued, and that the photoreceptor be made of a relatively rigid or more rigid material and more expensive to allow them to resist the dynamic moment of transverse torsion on its axis in the drive transmission. from one side to the other of it. The use of commonly glued mesh flanges does not allow easy dismantling and remanufacturing of the gear. Not using them could result in an organic pigment contamination of the developer roller gear, which normally results in poor gear movement. According to the present invention, however, the use of a member that counteracts the resultant force in the form of a clamp 240, advantageously allows the use of non-glued beads, the placement of the roller gear of the developer on the same side that the drive gear without the undesirable effects of a dynamic moment of transverse torsion, and thus the use of relatively less rigid materials, and consequently less expensive for the photoreceptor. Referring now to FIGS. 4, 7, 8, and 9, there is described, the Tile which counteracts the force resulting from the actuation of the process cartridge, shown as the clamp 240, of the present invention. As shown (FIGURES 7 and 8), when a module of the process cartridge 44 is fully inserted into the cavity 42 (FIGURE 1), an actuating movement is imparted in the counterclockwise direction 242 via a meshing mechanism. drive 244 from a drive module of the machine 20, to the engagement of the photoreceptor 246. The engagement of the photoreceptor 246, in turn, imparts a driving movement in a clockwise direction 284 to the engagement of the developer roller 250 as it shows. As such, the drive gear 244, the intermediate gears 252 for driving the agitators 186, 188 (FIGURES 4 and 9), and the gears 246, 250 for driving the photoreceptor 84 and the developer roller 92, are located therein. side (ie the second side 104) of the process cartridge module 44. As illustrated further, the resulting force Fr (FIGURE 8) on the roller gear the developer 250 (from the drive gear 244) has a direction that undesirably tends to push the developer roller 92 away from the photoreceptor 84, thereby tending to increase in a desirable manner the space avoided by the developer 220 (FIGURE 7). As further shown in FIGURE 9, the bra 240 comprises an elongated, generally ribbed, wall 270 made of a plastic material that is relatively stiffer than the plastic material used to house the developer 174, and consequently the wall of the second side 178 thereof, and defining a grooved portion 272. Importantly, the wall 270 includes an aperture 274 for precisely receiving and retaining the roll pin 226 of the developer roller 250 to prevent it from being moved by force resulting Fr that pushes this down. The wall 270 also includes a pair of alignment holes 276, 278 for aligning the opening 274 with the roller pin 226 of the developer roller 250. The wall 270 further includes three holes of the screw assembly that absorb the distributed force 280, 282 , 284 for mounting the clamp 240 to the second side 178 of the developer housing 174 (FIGURE 3). As such, the clamp 240 contains and retains the gear of the developer roller 250 within its grooved portion 272, and within the opening 274, thereby preventing it from being moved by the resultant force Fr. The clamp 240 as mounted thus counteracts the resultant force Fr, and thus effectively prevents the axial movement of the magnetic roller engagement 250, and prevents contamination with organic pigment mesh of the magnetic roller 250. As shown further, the wall 270 includes within the cavity 272, additional catch openings 286 for receiving and retaining a stub axle and drive gear (not shown) from the first stirrer 186 (FIGURE 3); 287 for receiving and retaining a stub axle and a drive gear (not shown) from the second agitator 188 (FIGURE 3); and 288 for receiving and retaining a stub axle and an intermediate gear (not shown) for transmitting the drive from first to second agitators. As can be seen, an electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted to a cavity defined by the coupled modules forming part of an electrostatic reproduction machine has been provided. The process cartridge includes an elongated plastic frame having a first side and a second side, as well as an internal surface defining a process chamber. It also includes a rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and the frame and having a surface that supports or contains an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment; a rotating developer member mounted to the frame, which forms a critical developing space with the photoreceptor member within the process chamber to enable to prevent the development of the organic pigment image on the surface containing the image; a drive assembly mounted to the second side of the frame to engage the photoreceptor member; and a gear train mounted on the second arm of the frame, and coupled to the drive assembly and the developer member to transmit the drive to the developer member. The gear train as assembled including a gear of the developer member, has a resultant driving force Fr which tends to push the gear of the developer member away from the photoreceptor member, thereby tending to expand the critical developing space. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a member that counteracts the resultant force mounted to the second side of the frame to absorb the resultant driving force Fr. The member that counteracts the resultant force includes a wall and a retention aperture to retain Precisely the developer member in a predetermined aligned position to maintain the critical developing space, and thus ensure a uniform developing quality of the organic pigment 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 thereto 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 relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (7)

1. 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, the process cartridge is characterized in that it comprises (a) an elongated plastic housing having a first, side and a second side, an internal surface that defines a process chamber; (b) a rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and the housing and having a surface that supports or contains an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment; (c) a rotating developer member mounted to the housing, and forming a critical developing space with the photoreceptor member within the process chamber to enable the development of the organic pigment image on the surface containing or supporting the image to be prevented.; (d) a drive assembly mounted to the second side of the housing for engaging the photoreceptor member; (e) a gear train mounted on the second side of the housing, and coupled to the drive assembly and the developer member to transmit the drive to the developer member, the gear train as assembled includes a gear of the developer member , and has a resultant driving force that pushes the gear of the developer member away from the photoreceptor member, thereby tending to expand the critical developing space; and (f) a member that counteracts the resultant force mounted to the second side of the housing to absorb the resultant driving force, the member that counteracts the resultant force includes a wall and a retaining opening for accurately retaining the developer member in a predetermined aligned position to maintain the critical developing space, and therefore ensure a developing quality of the uniform organic pigment image,

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the gear train includes the gear of the photoreceptor member coupled to, and driving the gear of the developer member.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the member that counteracts the resultant force is a clamp that includes three screw mounting holes that absorb the distributed force to mount the clamp to the second side of the housing.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement of the developer member includes a stub that is inserted and retained within a retention opening. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the member that counteracts the resultant force is made of a relatively stiffer plastic material than the plastic material of the plastic housing, to resist and absorb the force resulting without distortion. The process cartridge according to claim 4, characterized in that the member that counteracts the resultant force includes a pair of alignment holes for aligning the clamp to the gear spindle of the developer member. The process cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that the member that counteracts the resultant force comprises a channel-shaped wall defining a cavity to contain a gear train. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrostatic process cartridge removably mountable in a cavity defined by the coupled modules forming part of a machine, of electrostatic reproduction. The process cartridge includes an elongated plastic housing having a first side and a second side, as well as an internal surface which defines a process chamber. It also includes a rotating photoreceptor member mounted within the process chamber and housing and having a surface that supports or contains an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment.; a rotating developer member mounted to the housing, and which lines a critical developing space with the photoreceptor member within the process chamber to enable the development of the image of organic pigment on the surface containing the image to be prevented? a drive assembly mounted on the second side of the housing for engaging the photoreceptor member; and a gear train mounted on the second side of the housing, and coupled to the drive assembly and the developer member to transmit the drive to the developer member. The gear train as assembled includes a gear of the developer member, and has a resultant driving force that pushes the gear of the developer member away from the photoreceptor member, thereby tending to expand the critical developing space. Importantly, the process cartridge includes a member that counteracts the resultant force mounted to the second side of the housing to absorb the resultant driving force. The member that counteracts the resultant force includes a wall and a retaining aperture for accurately retaining the developer member in a predetermined aligned position to maintain the critical developing space, and therefore ensure a developing quality of the image of the developer. uniform organic pigment.