US20210200146A1 - Process cartridge - Google Patents
Process cartridge Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20210200146A1 US20210200146A1 US17/123,308 US202017123308A US2021200146A1 US 20210200146 A1 US20210200146 A1 US 20210200146A1 US 202017123308 A US202017123308 A US 202017123308A US 2021200146 A1 US2021200146 A1 US 2021200146A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- developing unit
- toner
- unit
- developing
- agitator
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
- G03G21/1814—Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0887—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity
- G03G15/0891—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
- G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cartridge, such as a photosensitive member unit, a developing unit, or the like, which is attachable to or detachable from an image forming apparatus that uses an electrophotographic system.
- a toner image is formed on a photosensitive drum, and this toner image is then transferred to a sheet serving as a recording material to form an image on the recording material.
- Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-224221 discloses a process cartridge which enables a developing unit that contain toner to be attached to and detached from a photosensitive member unit that has a photosensitive drum.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a technique which makes it possible to increase the volume of a space containing toner in a process cartridge.
- a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:
- photosensitive member unit includes:
- the developing unit includes:
- a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum
- the housing includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use
- At least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- the volume of a space containing toner in a process cartridge can be increased.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a developing unit
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge
- FIG. 6 is a top view of the developing unit
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the process cartridge
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating a detection member
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing unit
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the process cartridge
- FIGS. 11A and 11B are exploded perspective views of a photosensitive member unit
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit and the photosensitive member unit.
- FIG. 13 is a top view of the developing unit and the photosensitive member unit
- FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of the process cartridge
- FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit and a lift member
- FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between the lift member and a pressing member
- FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams illustrating separation of the developing unit
- FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 1,
- FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 2,
- FIG. 20 is a top view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 3.
- FIG. 21 is a top view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 4,
- FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 4,
- FIGS. 23A to 23F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of cutouts in a stirring sheet according to Embodiment 4,
- FIGS. 24A to 24F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of holes in the stirring sheet according to Embodiment 4,
- FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 4,
- FIGS. 26A and 26B are diagrams illustrating an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams illustrating the image forming apparatus including the process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 6,
- FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 5,
- FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 5.
- FIG. 34 is a top view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 5.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 1 including a process cartridge 5 .
- a front surface side of the image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as the “front”; a rear surface side, as the “rear”; an upper surface (top surface) side, as “up”; and a lower surface (bottom surface) side, as “down”.
- a left side of the image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as “left”, and a right side, as “right”.
- the orientation (state) of the image forming apparatus 1 in each drawing is assumed to be the orientation (state) in use, and thus the same directions as the image forming apparatus 1 are defined for the process cartridge 5 , under the assumption that the process cartridge 5 is in the same orientation as that used when the process cartridge 5 is mounted in the image forming apparatus 1 .
- Each direction in the drawings is defined by the arrows denoted in the drawings.
- a front-rear direction, an up-down direction, and a left-right direction indicated by these arrows are directions which are orthogonal to each other. These directions are assumed to be the same throughout all the drawings.
- the up-down direction is parallel to a vertical direction
- the left-right direction and the front-rear direction are parallel to a horizontal direction.
- the left-right direction is also parallel to the direction of a rotation axis line of a photosensitive drum 61 and the direction of a rotation axis line of a developing roller 71 .
- the process cartridge 5 is an integrated entity constituted by a developing unit 7 being mounted to a photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the process cartridge 5 When being mounted in an apparatus main body 2 , the process cartridge 5 is inserted in the direction indicated by an arrow S 1 in the drawings (a mounting direction), and is removed in the direction indicated by an arrow S 2 .
- the image forming apparatus 1 mainly includes: a paper feed portion 3 for supplying a sheet S to the inside of the apparatus main body 2 ; an exposure apparatus 4 ; the process cartridge 5 , which transfers a toner image onto the sheet S; and a fixing apparatus 8 which thermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet S.
- the paper feed portion 3 mainly includes a paper feed tray 31 provided in a lower part of the apparatus main body 2 , and a paper feed mechanism 32 .
- the sheet S which is held in the paper feed tray 31 , is fed toward the process cartridge 5 (between the photosensitive drum 61 and a transfer roller 63 ) by the paper feed mechanism 32 .
- the exposure apparatus 4 is disposed in an upper part of the apparatus main body 2 , and includes a laser light emitting portion (not shown), as well as a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like, which are not given reference signs.
- This exposure apparatus 4 exposes a surface of the photosensitive drum 61 by scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 at a high speed with a laser beam that is emitted from the laser light emitting portion and is based on image data.
- the process cartridge 5 is disposed below the exposure apparatus 4 .
- the configuration is such that the process cartridge 5 is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 by being inserted, in an insertion direction S 1 , into a holding portion 23 of the apparatus main body 2 from an opening exposed when a door (an opening/closing member) 21 provided in the apparatus main body 2 is open (indicated by a dot-dash line in FIG. 1 ).
- the process cartridge 5 is moved in a removal direction S 2 and removed.
- the process cartridge 5 mainly includes the photosensitive member unit 6 and the developing unit 7 .
- the photosensitive member unit 6 mainly includes the photosensitive drum 61 , a charging apparatus 62 , and the transfer roller 63 .
- the developing unit 7 is configured to be removably attached to the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the developing unit 7 mainly includes the developing roller 71 , a supply roller 72 , a layer thickness regulating blade 73 , a toner holding portion (developer holding portion) 74 which holds toner (developer), and a first agitator 75 A and a second agitator 75 B provided within the toner holding portion 74 .
- the photosensitive drum 61 is rotationally driven while the image formation process is underway. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is uniformly charged by the charging apparatus 62 , and is then exposed by laser light which is emitted from the exposure apparatus 4 and which corresponds to image data, forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the toner within the toner holding portion 74 is agitated by the second agitator 75 B and the first agitator 75 A, and is supplied to the developing roller 71 by the supply roller 72 .
- the toner supplied to the developing roller 71 advances between the developing roller 71 and the layer thickness regulating blade 73 , and is held on the developing roller 71 as a thin layer having a constant thickness.
- the toner held on the developing roller 71 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image and becomes a visible image, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 61 as a result.
- the sheet S is then conveyed to the area between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 63 , and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the sheet S. Untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 61 at this time is collected by the developing roller 71 and returned to the developing unit 7 .
- the fixing apparatus 8 is disposed to the rear of the process cartridge 5 , and mainly includes a heat roller 92 and a pressure roller 91 .
- the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred traverses the fixing apparatus 8 , at which time the sheet S is heated and compressed by the heat roller 92 and the pressure roller 91 , which fixes the toner image onto the sheet S.
- the sheet S which has traversed the fixing apparatus 8 is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 22 .
- the process cartridge 5 includes the photosensitive member unit 6 , and the developing unit 7 which is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing unit 7 , and is a cross-sectional view taken from a line A-A indicated in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing unit 7 from above
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 5 from above.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit 7 .
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developing unit 7 when mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6 , the cross-section being parallel to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.
- FIG. 6 is a top view of the developing unit 7 , and for the purposes of the descriptions, illustrates a state in which a top surface of a housing 700 and a side holder 719 have been removed.
- the developing unit 7 includes, on the front of the housing 700 serving as a developing frame body, a grip portion 701 which is gripped by a user, and in a rear part of the developing unit 7 , the developing roller 71 is rotatably supported.
- the direction of the rotation axis line of the developing roller 71 will be referred to as an “axial direction”.
- the developing roller 71 , the supply roller 72 , the first agitator (first stirring member) 75 A, and the second agitator (second stirring member) 75 B are each rotatably supported at both ends by a left side wall 704 and a right side wall 705 of the housing 700 .
- a developing coupling 710 , a developing roller gear 711 , a supply roller gear 712 , a first agitator gear 713 , a second agitator gear 714 , and idle gears 715 A, 715 B, and 715 C are provided further to the left side than the left side wall 704 of the housing 700 .
- the developing roller gear 711 is fixed to an end part of the developing roller 71
- the supply roller gear 712 is fixed to an end part of the supply roller 72
- the first agitator gear 713 is fixed to an end part of a stirring rod 78 A of the first agitator 75 A (see FIG. 5 )
- the second agitator gear 714 is fixed to an end part of a stirring rod 78 B of the second agitator 75 B (see FIG. 5 ).
- the developing unit 7 is provided with a first electrical contact point 720 A, which is electrically connected to the developing roller 71 and to which a voltage to be applied to the developing roller 71 is supplied, and a second electrical contact point 720 B, which is electrically connected to the supply roller 72 and to which a voltage to be applied to the supply roller 72 is supplied.
- These electrical contact points supply power to the developing roller 71 and the supply roller 72 by making contact with power supply points (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 .
- a developing drive transmission member (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 moves to a position for engaging with the developing coupling 710 .
- the developing drive transmission member moves to a position of disengaging from the developing coupling 710 .
- drive force is transmitted (input) from the developing drive transmission member to the developing coupling 710 , which serves as a drive force receiving member.
- This drive force enables the developing roller 71 to be rotated via the developing roller gear 711 , and the supply roller 72 to be rotated via the supply roller gear 712 , from a gear provided on an outer circumferential surface of the developing coupling 710 .
- the developing drive transmission member is configured to be capable of transmitting the drive force to the developing coupling 710 with an allowance provided for positional skew within a predetermined range of the developing coupling 710 . Movement of the developing coupling 710 , the developing roller gear 711 , and the supply roller gear 712 in the axial direction is regulated by the side holder 719 , which is attached to the housing 700 .
- the developing unit 7 stirs the toner within the toner holding portion 74 using the first agitator 75 A and the second agitator 75 B.
- the first agitator 75 A includes the stirring rod 78 A and a stirring sheet 79 A.
- the first agitator 75 A is configured to be capable of rotating by receiving drive force from the developing coupling 710 via the idle gear 715 A, using the first agitator gear 713 .
- the second agitator 75 B includes the stirring rod 78 B and a stirring sheet 79 B.
- the second agitator 75 B is configured to be capable of rotating by receiving drive force from the first agitator gear 713 via the idle gears 715 B and 715 C, using the second agitator gear 714 .
- the second agitator 75 B supplies toner from within the toner holding portion 74 to the first agitator 75 A. Toner in the toner holding portion 74 which is near the first agitator 75 A is stirred by the first agitator 75 A, supplied to the supply roller 72 , and is furthermore supplied to the developing roller 71 by the supply roller 72 .
- a detection portion 80 is provided at a left end part of the developing unit 7 .
- the detection portion 80 is included so that a state of a detection member 81 provided within can be detected by a detection mechanism (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 . Whether the developing unit 7 has or has not yet been used can be determined on the basis of the state of the detection member 81 .
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the developing unit 7 taken from the left side. For descriptive purposes, the drawing illustrates a state in which the side holder 719 is removed.
- the detection member 81 is provided with a detection projection 83 and a detection gear 82 .
- the detection gear 82 is a partially-toothed gear, as indicated in FIGS. 8A and 8B .
- the detection member 81 receives drive force from the second agitator gear 714 on the detection gear 82 .
- FIG. 8A illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 has not yet been used.
- the detection projection 83 is located on the upper-front side of the detection member 81 .
- the detection gear 82 is meshing with the second agitator gear 714 .
- the second agitator gear 714 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow R 3 in the drawing in response to the drive force received by the developing coupling 710 from the developing drive transmission member of the apparatus main body 2 .
- the detection gear 82 and the second agitator gear 714 are meshing at this time, and thus the detection member 81 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow R 4 in the drawing.
- FIG. 8B illustrates a state after the detection member 81 has rotated. Because the detection gear 82 is a partially-toothed gear, the detection member 81 stops rotating when the detection member 81 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R 4 in the drawing and there are no more gear teeth which mesh with the second agitator gear 714 .
- the detection projection 83 is located on the upper-rear side of the detection member 81 at this time. Whether the developing unit 7 has or has not been used can be determined by the detection mechanism (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 detecting the position of the detection projection 83 of the detection member 81 .
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing unit 7 , seen from below.
- memory 85 and a positioning projection 86 are provided on a bottom surface of the developing unit 7 .
- the memory 85 includes a memory chip (not shown) which stores information pertaining to the developing unit 7 , and a memory electrode 85 A which is conductive with the memory chip.
- the memory electrode 85 A contacts an electrode (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 , which enables the memory chip and the apparatus main body 2 to communicate.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 5 .
- FIG. 11A is an exploded perspective view of the photosensitive member unit 6
- FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view seen from a line B-B in FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit 7 and the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating positional relationships between the photosensitive member unit 6 , the developing unit 7 , and the developing roller 71 in the left-right direction.
- FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the process cartridge 5 , taken from below, and FIG.
- FIG. 14B is a perspective view of a positioning portion in an axis line direction of the developing unit 7 and the photosensitive drum 61 of the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the positioning projection 86 and the memory 85 of the developing unit 7 are illustrated in FIG. 14B .
- the photosensitive member unit 6 mainly includes a frame 610 , which has a pair of side walls, i.e., a left side wall 611 and a right side wall 612 ; and the photosensitive drum 61 , which is rotatably supported toward the rear of the frame 610 .
- the frame 610 includes, toward the front thereof, a mounting portion 615 (see FIG. 12 ), to which the developing unit 7 can be mounted; a grip portion 617 , which a user can use to grip the photosensitive member unit 6 ; pressing members 640 which press the developing unit 7 ; and a lift member (movement member) 642 , which lifts the developing unit 7 .
- the lift member 642 presses and moves the developing unit 7 mounted to the mounting portion 615 .
- the toner holding portion 74 of the developing unit 7 which is attached to the mounting portion 615 , is disposed between the left side wall 611 and the right side wall 612 in the left-right direction.
- the service life of the developing unit 7 which is determined by the amount of toner held in the developing unit 7 , is set to be shorter than the service life of the photosensitive member unit 6 , which is determined by the thickness of a photosensitive layer on the photosensitive drum 61 .
- a developing unit 7 which has reached the end of its service life it is necessary for a developing unit 7 which has reached the end of its service life to be replaced separately from the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the door 21 is opened and the process cartridge 5 is removed from the apparatus main body 2 , the developing unit 7 which has reached the end of its service life is removed from the photosensitive member unit 6 , and another developing unit 7 is then attached to the photosensitive member unit 6 as indicated by a mounting direction AD in FIG. 12 .
- the photosensitive member unit 6 to which the developing unit 7 has been attached, is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 as the process cartridge 5 .
- a receiving portion 641 which receives rotation shaft bearing members 746 A and 746 B of the developing roller 71 , is formed in the left side wall 611 and the right side wall 612 of the frame 610 , further toward the front than the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the receiving portion 641 is a substantially U-shaped depressed portion which, when viewed from the left side, is open to the front, and a rotation shaft 746 of the developing roller 71 is inserted into the receiving portion 641 during the process of mounting the developing unit 7 to the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the receiving portion 641 guides the movement of the developing unit 7 in the mounting direction AD, indicated in FIG. 12 , while supporting the developing unit 7 on the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- projecting portions 643 which project upward, are provided on both end parts, in the left-right direction, of a bottom surface 613 of the frame 610 .
- the projecting portions 643 support the developing unit 7 in a mobile state.
- a positioning hole 68 and a contact opening 69 are provided at one end side of the photosensitive member unit 6 in the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction).
- “one end side” refers to the same side with respect to a bisecting line following the length of the photosensitive drum 61 in the left-right direction.
- the positioning projection 86 and the positioning hole 68 engage in the axis line direction of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction), and the developing unit 7 is positioned relative to the photosensitive member unit 6 in the left-right direction as a result. Additionally, the memory 85 of the developing unit 7 is exposed on a lower part of the process cartridge 5 via the contact opening 69 in the photosensitive drum 61 .
- a depressed portion 90 L which has a box shape, is provided in the frame 610 of the photosensitive member unit 6 , at one end side in the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction). Seen from the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction), the depressed portion 90 L is provided in a position overlapping with the positioning hole 68 .
- the depressed portion 90 L reinforces a segment in the periphery of the positioning hole 68 which is weakened by the positioning hole 68 being provided, and thus increases the strength. As illustrated in FIG.
- a depth D 2 of the depressed portion 90 L is deeper than a depth D 1 of the positioning hole 68 , which increases the reinforcement effect.
- the strength around the positioning hole 68 of the photosensitive member unit 6 is increased, and the precision with which the positioning projection 86 of the developing unit 7 and the positioning hole 68 of the photosensitive member unit 6 position those units in the left-right direction is increased.
- the precision with which the memory electrode 85 A of the memory 85 and the electrode provided in the apparatus main body 2 are positioned also increases as a result, thus ensuring reliable electrode-to-electrode contact.
- a sheet member 93 L is provided on the photosensitive drum 61 side of the depressed portion 90 L.
- a leading end part 93 LA of the sheet member 93 L makes contact with the photosensitive drum 61 .
- unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have adhered to the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 when forming an image are removed by the leading end part 93 LA, which prevents image defects.
- the unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have been removed fall into and are collected in the depressed portion 90 L.
- a foreign object box 90 R which includes a box-shaped depressed portion, is provided on the opposite side of the photosensitive member unit 6 from the positioning hole 68 , in the left-right direction.
- a sheet member 93 R is provided on the photosensitive drum 61 side of the foreign object box 90 R.
- a leading end part 93 RA of the sheet member 93 R makes contact with the photosensitive drum 61 .
- unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have adhered to the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 when forming an image are removed by the leading end part 93 RA, which prevents image defects.
- the unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have been removed fall into and are collected in the foreign object box 90 R.
- the pressing members 640 are provided toward the front of the frame 610 , on both end parts of the frame 610 in the left-right direction.
- the pressing members 640 are biased toward the rear from the front by compression springs 640 A serving as biasing members. Accordingly, under the biasing force of the compression springs 640 A, the pressing members 640 press pressed ribs 716 A and 716 B, which are provided in the housing 700 of the developing unit 7 .
- the developing roller 71 is biased toward the photosensitive drum 61 as a result of the developing unit 7 being pressed by the pressing members 640 .
- a depressed portion 664 is provided in the left side wall 611 of the photosensitive member unit 6 , and the detection portion 80 of the developing unit 7 is located in the depressed portion 664 .
- Providing the depressed portion 664 lowers the rigidity of the frame 610 , and thus the first guide rib 662 is disposed therebelow so as to partially overlap therewith.
- the first guide rib 662 acts as a reinforcement member, which makes it possible to reduce the drop in the rigidity of the frame 610 .
- a photosensitive member gear (first gear) 65 and a transfer gear (second gear) 66 are fixed to a left end part of the photosensitive drum 61 , and are configured to rotate integrally with the photosensitive drum 61 .
- a drive gear (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2 meshes with the photosensitive member gear 65 , and as a result, drive force is transmitted to and enables the rotation of the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer gear 66 .
- the transfer gear 66 meshes with a transfer roller gear (third gear) 67 fixed to a left end part of the transfer roller 63 , and the transfer roller 63 can therefore also rotate.
- FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit 7 and the lift member 642 .
- FIGS. 16A and 16B are top views of the photosensitive member unit 6 in which the developing unit 7 is mounted, where FIG. 16A illustrates the lift member 642 in a see-through state, and FIG. 16B illustrates the lift member 642 in a non-see-through state.
- FIGS. 17A and 17B are cross-sectional views of the photosensitive member unit 6 and the developing unit 7 , the cross-sections being parallel to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.
- FIG. 17A illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6
- FIG. 17A illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6
- FIG. 17A illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6
- FIG. 17A illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6
- FIG. 17A
- FIG. 17B illustrates a state in which the developing unit 7 is placed on top of the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the developing unit 7 which is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 6 is moved to a lifted-up state by a lift mechanism, and is then removed from the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the lift mechanism will be described in detail below.
- At least part of the lift member 642 is rotatably supported by the right side wall 612 in a state where the lift member 642 receives a force from a compression spring 650 , while being disposed to the front of the housing 700 of the developing unit 7 . Additionally, the lift member 642 is disposed so as to at least partially overlap, in the front-rear direction, with the right side wall 705 of the housing 700 which holds toner and the pressing member 640 .
- a rotation axis line 642 X of the lift member 642 is parallel to the left-right direction (the axis line direction of the photosensitive drum 61 ). The lift member 642 is biased by the force from the compression spring 650 to rotate in the direction R 1 .
- the lift member 642 presses a projecting portion 751 and causes the developing unit 7 to move in a separation direction LD, separating from the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the operation portion 642 A is disposed on the right end part side (one end part side) of the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the developing roller 71 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 61 as a result of the housing 700 being pressed by the pressing members 640 . Additionally, the developing unit 7 is locked so as not to separate from the photosensitive member unit 6 by the pressing members 640 .
- one end of the lift member 642 moves a contact surface (contact region) 751 A of the projecting portion 751 of the housing 700 upward. Accordingly, the developing unit 7 can be moved from a mounted position, in which the developing unit 7 is mounted to the mounting portion 615 (see FIG. 12 ), in the separation direction LD, and can be separated from the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- the developing unit 7 when a front part of the developing unit 7 separates from the photosensitive member unit 6 , the developing unit 7 is held in a provisionally-supported position, in which a supported surface 700 c of the housing 700 is supported by a holding portion 640 B of the pressing members 640 .
- the rotation shaft bearing member 746 B ( 746 A) of the developing roller 71 is supported by the receiving portion 641 .
- This state will be called a “lifted-up state”.
- the lock i.e., the developing unit 7 being restricted from being removed from the photosensitive member unit 6
- the lock i.e., the developing unit 7 being restricted from being removed from the photosensitive member unit 6
- the developing unit 7 can be removed from the photosensitive member unit 6 without moving other members or the like. In this manner, the user can remove the developing unit 7 from the photosensitive member unit 6 and mount a new developing unit 7 in the photosensitive member unit 6 .
- FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional view of a pressing configuration of a developing unit 270 implemented by a pressing member 200 when the developing unit 270 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit 260 , according to Embodiment 1.
- FIG. 18B is a detailed partial view illustrating a first wall surface 212 and a second wall surface 222 indicated in FIG. 18A . The first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 will be described later.
- the photosensitive member unit 260 is provided with the photosensitive drum 61 , the frame 610 , and the pressing member 200 .
- the pressing member 200 is a pressing member that presses the developing roller 71 provided in the developing unit 270 toward the photosensitive drum 61 in a state where the developing unit 270 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the photosensitive member unit 260 is provided with a paper dust removal roller 64 A, a paper dust collection roller 64 B, and a paper dust collection chamber 64 C.
- the paper dust removal roller 64 A makes contact with the photosensitive drum 61 , and is disposed downstream, in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 61 , from the transfer roller 63 , and upstream, in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 61 , from the charging apparatus 62 .
- the paper dust collection roller 64 B makes contact with the paper dust removal roller 64 A, and is disposed further toward the rear than the paper dust removal roller 64 A.
- the paper dust collection chamber 64 C is an enclosed space formed by the paper dust collection roller 64 B and the frame 610 .
- the paper dust removal roller 64 A removes paper dust remaining on the photosensitive drum 61 from the photosensitive drum 61 after the toner image on the photosensitive drum 61 has been transferred onto the sheet S (not shown).
- the paper dust removed by the paper dust removal roller 64 A is collected in the paper dust collection chamber 64 C by the paper dust collection roller 64 B.
- a first agitator 211 and a second agitator 221 are provided within the developing unit 270 .
- the first agitator 211 is disposed within a first stirring chamber 210 provided further to the front than the developing roller 71 and the supply roller 72 .
- the second agitator 221 is disposed within a second stirring chamber 220 provided further to the front than the first stirring chamber 210 .
- the first stirring chamber 210 is a space which holds toner, formed by a top surface 240 of the stirring chambers, which is provided higher than the first agitator 211 in the gravitational direction, and the first wall surface 212 , which is provided lower than the first agitator 211 in the gravitational direction.
- the second stirring chamber 220 is a space which holds toner, formed by the top surface 240 of the stirring chambers, and the second wall surface 222 , which is provided lower than the second agitator 221 in the gravitational direction.
- At least part of the first wall surface 212 is a convex (arc-shaped) wall surface (bottom part) projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to the first agitator 211 .
- at least part of the second wall surface 222 is a convex (arc-shaped) wall surface (bottom part) projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to the second agitator 221 .
- the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 are convex wall surfaces projecting downward in the gravitational direction, and thus a common tangent T 203 (the broken line) can be drawn connecting the outer wall surfaces of the bottom parts of the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 .
- a region enclosed within the common tangent T 203 , the first wall surface 212 , and the second wall surface 222 is defined as a first depressed portion 231 .
- the first depressed portion 231 is formed at the boundary between the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 in the front-rear direction, and the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 are connected by the first depressed portion 231 .
- the first depressed portion 231 is disposed between centers of rotation of the first agitator 211 and the second agitator 221 in the front-rear direction.
- a pressing receiving portion 231 A which receives the pressing from the pressing member 200 is provided in the first depressed portion 231 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A receives pressing force from the pressing member 200 in the direction of a first line T 201 , the developing roller 71 makes contact with the photosensitive drum 61 at a predetermined contact pressure.
- the first line T 201 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which passes through the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 .
- the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 is located near a second line T 202 in the up-down direction.
- the second line T 202 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which connects the centers of rotation of the developing roller 71 and the first agitator 211 .
- the second line T 202 passes through the second stirring chamber 220 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the pressing member 200 are preferably provided at both end parts of the frame 610 in the left-right direction, from the standpoint of stabilizing the left-right distribution of the contact pressure from the developing roller 71 on the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the number of components can be reduced by providing the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the pressing member 200 near the center of the frame 610 in the left-right direction.
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the pressing member 200 may be provided at both ends and near the center of the frame 610 , in the left-right direction. Additionally, from the standpoint of making the developing unit 270 smaller in the left-right direction, the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the pressing member 200 may be disposed further toward the center of the frame 610 in the left-right direction than the lift member 642 , and may be disposed overlapping in the left-right direction within a range that does not protrude beyond the outer part of the lift member 642 .
- the process cartridge 5 according to Embodiment 1 illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B includes the photosensitive member unit 260 and the developing unit 270 which is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the photosensitive member unit 260 includes: the photosensitive drum 61 , on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; the frame 610 , which supports the photosensitive drum 61 ; and the pressing member 200 , which presses the developing unit 270 toward the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the developing unit 270 includes: the developing roller 71 , which supplies toner to the photosensitive member unit 260 and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum; a housing 250 in which the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 that hold toner (holding spaces) are formed; and the pressing receiving portion 231 A, which receives the pressing from the pressing member 200 .
- the housing 250 includes: the arc-shaped (downwardly-convex) first wall surface 212 (first bottom portion outer wall), which projects outward with respect to the first stirring chamber 210 ; and the arc-shaped (downwardly-convex) second wall surface 222 (second bottom portion outer wall), which projects outward with respect to the second stirring chamber 220 .
- the configuration is such that when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (facing the drawing head-on), the pressing receiving portion 231 A is at least partially disposed within the first depressed portion 231 , which is surrounded by the common tangent T 203 tangent to both the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 , and the first wall surface 212 , and moreover the second wall surface 222 .
- the pressing member 200 to be disposed within the first depressed portion 231 , which normally would be dead space, and the developing unit 270 can therefore be made smaller.
- the volume of the space for holding the toner can be increased without increasing the size of the developing unit.
- the developing unit 270 includes, as members which convey the toner within the holding space of the housing 250 : the first agitator 211 (a first conveyance member), which conveys the toner by rotating in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first wall surface 212 ; and the second agitator 221 (a second conveyance member), which conveys the toner by rotating in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second wall surface 222 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A is disposed between the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 and the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 , in the horizontal direction.
- the first line T 201 passes through (crosses) the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 .
- the second line T 202 when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 , the second line T 202 , which passes through the center of rotation of the developing roller 71 and the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 , also passes through the second stirring chamber 220 , which serves as a conveyance chamber housing the second agitator 221 .
- the pressing member 200 is provided in the first depressed portion 231 , and as a result, the pressing receiving portion 231 A receives pressing force from the pressing member 200 in the direction of the first line T 201 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A is provided closer to the developing roller 71 than the second wall surface 222 in the front-rear direction (i.e., further to the rear). Accordingly, deformation of the housing 250 caused by the pressing force can be suppressed in a configuration in which the second wall surface 222 , which is provided further from the developing roller 71 (further to the front) than the first wall surface 212 in the front-rear direction, is pressed. As a result, loss of contact pressure from the developing roller 71 on the photosensitive drum 61 caused by deformation in the housing 250 can be suppressed.
- the pressing member 200 is provided in the first depressed portion 231 , and thus more space can be conserved in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) than when the pressing member 200 is provided to the front of the second wall surface 222 .
- the process cartridge 5 according to Embodiment 1 can conserve more space in the up-down direction than in a configuration where the pressing member 200 is biased by a part, of either the first wall surface 212 or the second wall surface 222 , located lower than the first depressed portion 231 in the gravitational direction.
- the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 is located near the second line T 202 in the up-down direction.
- the second line T 202 is inclined more toward a horizontal line (the front-rear direction) than a vertical line (the up-down direction), and thus an elevation difference between the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 in the up-down direction can be kept small.
- the up-down direction size (the height) of the developing unit 270 can therefore be made small, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the up-down direction sizes (the heights) of the process cartridge 5 and the image forming apparatus 1 .
- the height from which the toner falls when the toner is conveyed from the second stirring chamber 220 to the first stirring chamber 210 by the second agitator 221 is kept low, an increase in powder pressure produced when the toner accumulates in the up-down direction can be prevented. This suppresses degradation caused by an increase in the powder pressure of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developing unit 270 .
- the left-right direction size (the width) of the developing unit 270 can be made small. This makes it possible to reduce the left-right direction sizes (widths) of the process cartridge 5 and the image forming apparatus 1 .
- the pressing member 200 is provided in the first depressed portion 231 , and thus the first depressed portion 231 and the pressing member 200 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed.
- the first depressed portion 231 of the developing unit 270 is provided in a different location of the photosensitive member unit from the pressing member 200 , one of the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 will contact the pressing member 200 when the developing unit 270 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the developing unit 270 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position such as that illustrated in FIG. 18A , which enables the user to recognize that the developing unit 270 has been erroneously mounted.
- FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a pressing configuration of a developing unit 271 implemented by a pressing member 201 when the developing unit 271 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit 261 , according to Embodiment 2.
- the photosensitive member unit 261 is provided with the photosensitive drum 61 , the frame 610 , and the pressing member 201 .
- the pressing member 201 is provided further to the front than a housing 251 of the developing unit 271 , and presses the housing 251 in the direction of an arrow 201 F in a state where the developing unit 271 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the arrow 201 F indicates a pressing force vector over which the developing roller 71 provided in the developing unit 271 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 61 .
- An arrow 201 H and an arrow 201 V represent a horizontal component (front-rear direction partial force component) and a vertical component (up-down direction partial force component), respectively, of the pressing force vector 201 F.
- the horizontal pressing force component 201 H is oriented in a direction facing from the front side toward the rear side
- the vertical pressing force component 201 V is oriented in a direction facing from the top side toward the bottom side.
- a rotation stopping portion 202 serving as a substitute for the projecting portions 643 illustrated in FIG. 13 , is provided in the first depressed portion 231 of the developing unit 271 .
- the rotation stopping portion 202 restricts the rotational action of the developing unit 271 relative to the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the rotation stopping portion 202 is constituted by a rotation stopping roller portion 202 A, and a roller support portion 202 B which supports the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A.
- the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A is supported so as to be capable of rotating relative to the roller support portion 202 B, and has a cylindrical or spherical shape.
- the roller support portion 202 B is fixed to and supported by the frame 610 . By making contact with the pressing receiving portion 231 A, the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A supports the developing unit 271 so as to be mobile relative to the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A receives a counterforce from the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A in the direction of an arrow 202 F.
- the arrow 202 F represents a vector of a rotation stopping contact force which restricts the freedom with which the developing unit 271 rotates about the developing roller 71 .
- An arrow 202 H and an arrow 202 V represent a horizontal component (front-rear direction partial force component) and a vertical component (up-down direction partial force component), respectively, of the rotation stopping contact force 202 F.
- the horizontal component 202 H is oriented in a direction facing from the front side toward the rear side
- the vertical component 202 V is oriented in a direction facing from the bottom side toward the top side.
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the rotation stopping portion 202 are preferably provided at both end parts of the frame 610 in the left-right direction, from the standpoint of stabilizing the left-right distribution of the contact pressure from the developing roller 71 on the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the number of components can be reduced by providing the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the rotation stopping portion 202 near the center of the frame 610 in the left-right direction.
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the rotation stopping portion 202 may be provided at both ends and near the center of the frame 610 , in the left-right direction. Additionally, from the standpoint of making the developing unit 271 smaller in the left-right direction, the pressing receiving portion 231 A and the rotation stopping portion 202 may be disposed further toward the center of the frame 610 in the left-right direction than the lift member 642 , and may be disposed overlapping in the left-right direction within a range that does not protrude beyond the outer part of the lift member 642 .
- the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 of the developing unit 271 are respectively constituted by the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 , which form a bottom surface on the lower side in the gravitational direction, and a first top surface 241 and a second top surface 242 , which form a top surface on the upper side in the gravitational direction.
- the first top surface 241 and the second top surface 242 are connected by an intersecting portion 242 A, which is a leading end part of the second top surface 242 on the rear side thereof.
- the intersecting portion 242 A has a shape which extends from the front side toward the rear side in the second top surface 242 , and is therefore disposed so as to overlap with the first top surface 241 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the intersecting portion 242 A and the first top surface 241 are provided intersecting in the front-rear direction.
- the process cartridge 5 according to Embodiment 2 illustrated in FIG. 19 includes the photosensitive member unit 261 and the developing unit 271 which is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the photosensitive member unit 261 includes: the photosensitive drum 61 ; the frame 610 , which supports the photosensitive drum 61 ; and the rotation stopping portion 202 , which presses the developing unit 271 toward the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the developing unit 271 includes: the developing roller 71 ; the housing 251 , in which the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 which hold toner are formed; and the pressing receiving portion 231 A which receives the pressing from the rotation stopping portion 202 .
- the housing 251 includes: the arc-shaped first wall surface 212 , which projects outward with respect to the first stirring chamber 210 ; the arc-shaped second wall surface 222 , which projects outward with respect to the second stirring chamber 220 ; the first top surface 241 , which is provided on the upper side in the gravitational direction; the second top surface 242 , which is provided higher in the gravitational direction than the first top surface 241 and which is disposed so as to partially overlap with the first top surface 241 when viewed from above; and the intersecting portion 242 A (a connecting portion), which connects the first top surface 241 and the second top surface 242 .
- the intersecting portion 242 A has an opposing surface 242 B which opposes the first top surface 241 below the second top surface 242 .
- a user can insert their finger into the recess created by the overlap between the first top surface 241 and the second top surface 242 when viewed from above, and by gripping the second top surface 242 from above while supporting the opposing surface 242 B from below, that part can be used as a handle when mounting and removing the developing unit 271 .
- the rotation stopping portion 202 includes the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A, which supports the developing unit 271 when the developing unit 271 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A is disposed in the first depressed portion 231 , as in Embodiment 1. This allows the rotation stopping portion 202 to be disposed within the first depressed portion 231 , which normally would be dead space, and the developing unit 271 can therefore be made smaller. In other words, the volume of the space for holding the toner can be increased without increasing the size of the developing unit 271 .
- the pressing receiving portion 231 A receives pressing force of the rotation stopping contact force 202 F from the rotation stopping portion 202 .
- the process cartridge 5 according to Embodiment 2 can conserve more space in the up-down direction than in a configuration where the rotation stopping portion 202 supports a part, of either the first wall surface 212 or the second wall surface 222 , located lower than the first depressed portion 231 in the gravitational direction.
- the horizontal component 202 H acting on the developing unit 271 from the rotation stopping portion 202 is oriented in the same direction as the horizontal pressing force component 201 H, i.e., in the direction from the front toward the rear. Accordingly, a biasing force of the developing roller 71 acting on the photosensitive drum 61 is added by the horizontal component 202 H, which makes it possible to further stabilize the state of contact between the developing roller 71 and the photosensitive drum 61 .
- the means with which the developing roller 71 contacts the photosensitive drum 61 is distributed between the pressing member 201 and the rotation stopping portion 202 , which keeps the compression spring force of the pressing member 201 low. Keeping the compression spring force of the pressing member 201 low makes it possible to suppress creep deformation in the frame 610 occurring when the process cartridge 5 is left standing for a long time, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the strength required of the frame 610 . Costs can therefore be reduced by making the frame 610 thinner and so on.
- the intersecting portion 242 A intersects with the first top surface 241 of the stirring chambers in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, when the developing unit 271 is mounted to and removed from the photosensitive member unit 261 , the intersecting portion 242 A can be used as a handle of the developing unit 271 , which a user can hook their finger on and grip. This makes it possible to conserve more space in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) than with a configuration in which a handle of the developing unit 271 is provided further to the front than the second wall surface 222 .
- a location closer to a center of gravity 251 G of the developing unit 271 in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) can be gripped than with a configuration in which a handle of the developing unit 271 is provided further to the front than the second wall surface 222 . Accordingly, a burden placed on the wrist when mounting and removing the developing unit 271 to and from the photosensitive member unit 261 , i.e., a load of moment about the wrist produced when gripping the developing unit 271 , can be reduced.
- the rotation stopping portion 202 is provided in the first depressed portion 231 , and thus the first depressed portion 231 and the rotation stopping portion 202 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed.
- the first depressed portion 231 of the developing unit 271 is provided in a different location from the rotation stopping portion 202 , one of the first wall surface 212 and the second wall surface 222 will contact the rotation stopping portion 202 when the developing unit 271 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 261 .
- the developing unit 271 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position such as that illustrated in FIG. 18A , which enables the user to recognize that the developing unit 271 has been erroneously mounted.
- FIG. 20 is a top view illustrating a positional relationship between the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 in the left-right direction, when a developing unit 272 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit 262 , according to Embodiment 3. Note that the top surface 240 of the stirring chambers is not shown in order to illustrate the internal structures of the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 .
- the first stirring chamber 210 which serves as a first conveyance chamber, has a first stirring chamber longitudinal width 213 H from the left side wall 704 of the developing unit 272 to a first stirring chamber side wall 213 , in the left-right direction.
- the second stirring chamber 220 which serves as a second conveyance chamber, has a second stirring chamber longitudinal width 223 H from the left side wall 704 to a second stirring chamber side wall 223 , in the left-right direction.
- the second stirring chamber longitudinal width 223 H is longer than the first stirring chamber longitudinal width 213 H.
- At least part of the pressing member 200 or the lift member 642 overlaps with a space between the first stirring chamber side wall 213 and the second stirring chamber side wall 223 in the left-right direction.
- the pressing member 200 and the lift member 642 are disposed, in the left-right direction, further from the center of the developing unit 272 in the left-right direction than the first stirring chamber side wall 213 .
- at least part of the pressing member 200 or the lift member 642 is located closer, in the left-right direction, to the center of the developing unit 272 in the left-right direction than the second stirring chamber side wall 223 .
- the pressing member 200 or the lift member 642 is disposed further to the rear than the second stirring chamber 220 and further to the front than the developing roller 71 , in the front-rear direction.
- the pressing member 200 is provided on the left side of the lift member 642 in this embodiment, from the standpoint of usability when removing the developing unit, the positional relationship in the left-right direction can be reversed, i.e., the pressing member 200 can be provided on the right side of the lift member 642 . Additionally, although the pressing member 200 and the lift member 642 are, in this embodiment, disposed so as to at least partially overlap in the area between the first stirring chamber side wall 213 and the second stirring chamber side wall 223 in the left-right direction, the pressing member 200 may be disposed in the first depressed portion 231 described in Embodiment 2.
- the developing unit 272 includes the first agitator 211 that conveys toner, the second agitator 221 that conveys toner, the first stirring chamber 210 that houses the first agitator 211 , and the second stirring chamber 220 that houses the second agitator 221 .
- the second stirring chamber longitudinal width 223 H of the second stirring chamber 220 which is a width in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller, is greater than the first stirring chamber longitudinal width 213 H of the first stirring chamber 210 , which is a width in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller.
- the lift member 642 is provided further from the left-right direction center of the developing unit 272 than the first stirring chamber side wall 213 in the left-right direction, and is provided between the second stirring chamber 220 and the developing roller 71 in the front-rear direction.
- the lift member 642 can therefore be seen from the same perspective as that illustrated in the top view in FIG. 20 , i.e., from the top surface side of the developing unit 272 , which makes it possible to ensure that the lift member 642 is visible when removing the developing unit 272 from the photosensitive member unit 262 .
- the second stirring chamber longitudinal width 223 H is made longer than the first stirring chamber longitudinal width 213 H, and thus the volume of the toner held in the second stirring chamber 220 can be increased by an amount equivalent to the difference between the second stirring chamber longitudinal width 223 H and the first stirring chamber longitudinal width 213 H. This makes it possible to further increase the service life of the developing unit 272 .
- FIGS. 21 and 22 are a top view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, illustrating a developer conveyance configuration when a developing unit 372 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit 362 , according to Embodiment 4. Note that the top surface 240 of the stirring chambers is not shown in order to illustrate the internal structures of the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 .
- a first agitator 311 which is capable of rotating, is provided in the first stirring chamber 210 .
- the first agitator 311 includes a first stirring rod 311 S, a first rotation shaft 311 A extending in the left-right direction, a first stirring sheet 312 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and a plurality of stirring blades 313 , and supplies toner to the supply roller 72 by rotating about the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- Holes 312 H are provided in a plurality of locations in the first stirring sheet 312 , at intervals in a longitudinal direction of the first stirring sheet 312 , to adjust the force with which the toner is supplied.
- the first stirring rod 311 S is provided with the stirring blades 313 to convey the toner in the first stirring chamber 210 to a central part. Toner which has accumulated on the supply roller 72 is again expelled into the first stirring chamber 210 by rubbing against the developing roller 71 . Some of this expelled toner is conveyed to both end sides of the supply roller 72 in the axial direction thereof.
- the first stirring rod 311 S is provided with the stirring blades 313 to return this toner, which has been conveyed to both end sides, back to the central part of the first stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction.
- a plurality of the stirring blades 313 are provided on the first stirring rod 311 S, at intervals along the left-right direction of the first stirring rod 311 S.
- six of the stirring blades 313 are provided.
- the stirring blades 313 according to this embodiment are plate-shaped members having semi-oval shapes, and are configured so that a normal line at an intersection point 311 P where the stirring blades 313 intersect with the first rotation shaft 311 A intersects with the first rotation shaft 311 A at an angle 313 ⁇ .
- the three stirring blades 313 on the right side are provided so that the angle 313 ⁇ is in the counterclockwise direction relative to the first rotation shaft 311 A, and the three stirring blades 313 on the left side are provided so that the angle 313 ⁇ is in the clockwise direction relative to the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- the six stirring blades 313 are provided with bilateral symmetry. Accordingly, when the first stirring rod 311 S rotates, the toner at the end parts of the first stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction is subject to a conveyance force, moving toward the center in the left-right direction, from the stirring blades 313 .
- a second agitator 321 which is capable of rotating, is provided in the second stirring chamber 220 .
- the second agitator 321 includes a second rotation shaft 321 A extending in the left-right direction and a second stirring sheet 322 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from the second stirring chamber 220 toward the first stirring chamber 210 by rotating about the second rotation shaft 321 A.
- the second stirring sheet 322 has linear cutouts 322 C extending in a direction having a set angle 3220 relative to the second rotation shaft 321 A.
- the cutouts 322 C are provided, and the cutouts 322 C are positioned between the intersection points 311 P between the stirring blades 313 and the first rotation shaft 311 A, in the left-right direction.
- the amount of toner conveyed by the second agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by the first agitator 311 .
- the three cutouts 322 C on the right side are provided so that the angle 322 ⁇ is in the counterclockwise direction relative to the second rotation shaft 321 A, and the three cutouts 322 C on the left side are provided so that the angle 322 ⁇ is in the clockwise direction relative to the second rotation shaft 321 A.
- the six cutouts 322 C are provided with bilateral symmetry.
- the stirring blades 313 described in this embodiment are examples, and the shape and number of the stirring blades 313 can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the stirring performance.
- the stirring blades 313 may have screw shapes with an angle of torsion relative to the first rotation shaft 311 A, shapes with unevenness in the sides or on the surfaces, and so on.
- the shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and angles in which the surfaces are oriented can also be varied among the plurality of stirring blades 313 from the standpoint of changing the circulation performance at each of positions in the left-right direction. It is furthermore not absolutely necessary for the plurality of stirring blades 313 to be located at equal intervals, nor is it absolutely necessary for the directions of the normal lines of the surface to be the same at each of the intersection points 311 P.
- this embodiment describes the shape of the cutouts 322 C as being lines having the set angle 3220 relative to the second rotation shaft 321 A, this set angle 322 ⁇ may be any angle aside from 0 and 180 degrees, and the width of the line may be set freely from the standpoint of processability.
- the shape, number, and interval of the cutouts 322 C described in this embodiment are examples, and can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the conveyance performance. Further still, the shapes, sizes, and intervals can be varied among the plurality of cutouts 322 C from the standpoint of varying the conveyance performance depending on the location in the left-right direction.
- FIGS. 23A to 23F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of the cutouts in the stirring sheet according to Embodiment 4.
- the cutouts have a shape in which a circle is connected to an end part of a rectangle extending in a direction perpendicular to the second rotation shaft 321 A ( FIG. 23A ), a shape in which a plurality of lines are connected at the end part or partway along the lines ( FIGS. 23B and 23C ), arc shapes ( FIG. 23D ), and triangles ( FIG. 23E ).
- These shapes can also be used in combination within a single second stirring sheet 322 ( FIG. 23F ).
- FIGS. 24A to 24F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of holes in the stirring sheet according to Embodiment 4.
- second holes 322 H can also be provided in the surface of the second stirring sheet 322 instead of the cutouts 322 C according to this embodiment.
- the shapes of the second holes 322 H can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the conveyance performance.
- the holes have shapes such as rectangles ( FIGS. 24A and 24E ), ellipses ( FIG. 24B ), triangles ( FIG. 24C ), circles ( FIG. 24D ), and so on.
- the shapes of the second holes 322 H may also be different in the left-right direction ( FIG. 24F ), and the number and interval thereof may be set freely.
- the developing unit 372 includes the first agitator 311 , which conveys toner toward the developing roller, and the second agitator 321 , which conveys toner toward the first agitator 311 .
- the first agitator 311 includes the first rotation shaft 311 A, and the plurality of stirring blades 313 which are inclined relative to the axis line of the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- the second agitator 321 includes the second stirring sheet 322 .
- the second stirring sheet 322 has the plurality of cutouts 322 C (slits) which are formed at an angle relative to the second rotation shaft 321 A. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the amount of toner conveyed by the first agitator 311 and the second agitator 321 .
- the first agitator 311 includes a plurality of the stirring blades 313 . At least part of each of the cutouts 322 C is positioned between two adjacent stirring blades 313 with respect to the axis line of the first rotation shaft 311 A, as seen from a direction orthogonal to the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- Each of the cutouts 322 C has a first end 322 A located on a free end side of the second stirring sheet 322 , and a second end 322 B located on the side opposite from the first end 322 A.
- Each of the cutouts 322 C extends from the second end 322 B to the first end 322 A, from the center toward the outer side of the second stirring sheet 322 in a direction of the second rotation shaft 321 A. Accordingly, the toner in the first stirring chamber 210 and the second stirring chamber 220 can be conveyed in a circulating manner.
- a developing unit 500 according to Embodiment 4 and illustrated in FIG. 25 includes: the first agitator 211 (first conveyance member), which is capable of rotating and conveys the toner in the first stirring chamber 210 toward the developing roller 71 ; the second agitator 221 (second conveyance member), which is capable of rotating and conveys the toner in the second stirring chamber 220 toward the first agitator 211 ; and a third agitator 501 (a third conveyance member), which conveys toner in a third stirring chamber 503 toward the second agitator 221 .
- a housing includes: the arc-shaped first wall surface 212 , which projects outward with respect to the first stirring chamber 210 ; the arc-shaped second wall surface 222 , which projects outward with respect to the second stirring chamber 220 ; and an arc-shaped third wall surface 505 , which projects outward with respect to the third stirring chamber 503 .
- the first agitator 211 is disposed above the first wall surface 212
- the second agitator 221 is disposed above the second wall surface 222
- the third agitator 501 is disposed above the third wall surface 505 .
- FIG. 25 when the developing unit 500 is seen in a direction of the rotation axis of the first agitator 211 , at least part of the third wall surface 505 extends in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 61 , further than an end part on the side opposite from the end part where the photosensitive drum 61 is disposed, in a direction connecting the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 with the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 .
- the third agitator 501 is capable of rotating, and a center of rotation of the third agitator 501 may be located higher, in the gravitational direction, than a straight line L 1 connecting the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 with the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 .
- the cutouts 322 C in the second stirring sheet 322 are provided, in the left-right direction, between the plurality of intersection points 311 P where the stirring blades 313 intersect with the first rotation shaft 311 A. Furthermore, the amount of toner conveyed by the second agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by the first agitator 311 . This makes it possible to prevent the supply of an amount of toner excessive for the stirring blades 313 provided in the first agitator 311 , which in turn makes it possible to suppress degradation in the toner within the developing chamber.
- FIGS. 32 and 33 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which a developing unit 470 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit, according to Embodiment 5.
- FIG. 34 is a top view illustrating a developer conveyance configuration when the developing unit is mounted in the photosensitive member unit.
- the first agitator 311 includes the first stirring rod 311 S, the first rotation shaft 311 A extending in the left-right direction, the first stirring sheet 312 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and the plurality of stirring blades 313 , and supplies toner to the supply roller 72 by rotating about the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- the first stirring rod 311 S is provided with the stirring blades 313 to convey the toner in the first stirring chamber 210 (a first toner holding chamber) to a central part. Toner which has accumulated on the supply roller 72 is again expelled into the first stirring chamber 210 by rubbing against the developing roller 71 . Some of this expelled toner is conveyed to both end sides of the supply roller 72 in the axial direction thereof.
- the first stirring rod 311 S is provided with the stirring blades 313 to return this toner, which has been conveyed to both end sides, back to the central part of the first stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction. Additionally, the stirring blades 313 at both end parts in the longitudinal direction reduce the toner pressure at both end parts, and thus by filling a gap between both end parts of the developing roller 71 in the longitudinal direction and the housing 700 , toner leakage from a toner seal portion (not shown), which prevents such toner leakage, can be reduced.
- a plurality of the stirring blades 313 are provided at intervals along the left-right direction of the first stirring rod 311 S.
- six of the stirring blades 313 are provided.
- the stirring blades 313 have semi-oval plate shapes, and a normal line at the intersection point 311 P, where the stirring blades 313 intersect with the first rotation shaft 311 A, intersects with the first rotation shaft 311 A at the angle 313 ⁇ .
- a second agitator 321 which is capable of rotating, is provided in the second stirring chamber 220 (a second toner holding chamber).
- the second agitator 321 includes a second stirring rod 321 S, the second rotation shaft 321 A extending in the left-right direction, and the second stirring sheet 322 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from the second stirring chamber 220 toward the first stirring chamber 210 by rotating about the second rotation shaft 321 A.
- the amount of toner conveyed by the second agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by the first agitator 311 .
- a third agitator 401 which is capable of rotating, is provided in a third stirring chamber 403 (a third toner holding chamber).
- the third agitator 401 includes a third stirring rod 401 S, a third rotation shaft 401 A extending in the left-right direction, and a third stirring sheet 402 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from the third stirring chamber 403 toward the second stirring chamber 220 by rotating about the third rotation shaft 401 A.
- the amount of toner conveyed by the third agitator 401 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by the second agitator 321 . This makes it possible to prevent an excessive amount of toner from backing up in the rearward direction in the second stirring chamber 220 and the first stirring chamber 210 .
- a center of rotation of the third agitator 401 is located near a second line T 302 in the up-down direction, as indicated in FIG. 32 , i.e., within a rotational radius of a leading end of the third stirring sheet 402 .
- the second line T 302 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which connects the centers of rotation of the developing roller 71 and the first agitator 311 .
- the second line T 302 passes through the second stirring chamber 220 and the third stirring chamber 403 .
- the center of rotation of the third agitator 401 is located near the second line T 302 in the up-down direction.
- the second line T 302 is inclined more toward a horizontal line (the front-rear direction) than a vertical line (the up-down direction), and thus an elevation difference between the first stirring chamber 210 , the second stirring chamber 220 , and the third stirring chamber 403 in the up-down direction can be kept small.
- the up-down direction size (the height) of the developing unit 470 can therefore be made small, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the up-down direction sizes (the heights) of the process cartridge 5 and the image forming apparatus 1 .
- the height from which the toner falls when the toner is conveyed from the third stirring chamber 403 to the second stirring chamber 220 by the third agitator 401 is kept low, an increase in powder pressure produced when the toner accumulates in the up-down direction can be prevented. This suppresses degradation caused by an increase in the powder pressure of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developing unit 270 .
- the third agitator 401 is constituted by the third rotation shaft 401 A and the third stirring sheet 402 , but the configuration is not limited thereto.
- a third agitator 450 may include a third stirring rod 451 S, a plurality of stirring blades 452 , and a third stirring sheet 455 , and may be configured to convey toner from the third stirring chamber 403 toward the second stirring chamber 220 by rotating about a third rotation shaft 451 A.
- the third stirring rod 451 S is provided with the stirring blades 452 to convey the toner in the third stirring chamber 403 outward in the axial direction of the third stirring rod 451 S.
- a plurality of the stirring blades 452 are provided on the third stirring rod 451 S, at intervals along the left-right direction of the third stirring rod 451 S.
- six of the stirring blades 452 are provided.
- the stirring blades 452 according to this embodiment have semi-oval plate shapes, and are configured so that a normal line at an intersection point 451 P where the stirring blades 452 intersect with the third rotation shaft 451 A intersects with the third rotation shaft 451 A at an angle 453 ⁇ .
- the toner within the third stirring chamber 403 is conveyed outward in the axial direction of the third stirring rod 451 S, and is also conveyed from the third stirring chamber 403 toward the second stirring chamber 220 by the third stirring sheet 455 .
- the second agitator 321 rotates, the toner within the second stirring chamber 220 is conveyed from the second stirring chamber 220 toward the first stirring chamber 210 .
- the first stirring rod 311 S of the first agitator 311 is provided with the stirring blades 313 for conveying the toner within the first stirring chamber 210 toward the central part thereof, and thus the first, second, and third agitators produce toner circulation, indicated by arrows 480 and 481 in FIG. 34 .
- This major toner circulation makes it possible to suppress degradation of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developing unit 270 .
- the amount of toner conveyed by the third agitator 450 is set to be the same or smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by the first agitator 311 . This makes it possible to prevent an excessive amount of toner from backing up in the rearward direction in the second stirring chamber 220 and the first stirring chamber 210 .
- this embodiment describes a configuration in which the third agitator is provided with a plurality of stirring blades, the configuration may be such that the second agitator is provided with a plurality of stirring blades and conveys toner outward in the axial direction of the stirring rod, and only the stirring sheet is fixed to the rotation shaft of the third agitator.
- the above-described lift member 642 and the like are not present in the periphery of the third stirring chamber 403 , which is in a position distant from the developing roller, as illustrated in FIG. 34 .
- This produces space in the axial direction of the stirring rod making it possible to provide a side wall surface 490 of the third stirring chamber 403 in the left-right direction (the axial direction of the third stirring rod 451 S) further on the outside, in the left-right direction, than a side wall surface 491 of the second stirring chamber 220 in the left-right direction (the axial direction of the second stirring rod 321 S).
- This increases the volume of the toner receptacle, which makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developing unit 270 .
- the developing unit 470 includes: the developing roller 71 ; the housing 700 , in which are formed the first stirring chamber 210 , the second stirring chamber 220 , and the third stirring chamber 403 that hold toner; the first agitator 311 , which conveys the toner within the housing 700 toward the developing roller 71 ; the second agitator 321 , which conveys the toner within the housing 700 toward the first agitator 311 ; and the third agitator 401 , which conveys the toner within the housing 700 toward the second agitator 321 .
- the housing 700 includes: the arc-shaped first wall surface 212 , which projects outward with respect to the first stirring chamber 210 ; the arc-shaped second wall surface 222 , which projects outward with respect to the second stirring chamber 220 ; and an arc-shaped third wall surface 505 , which projects outward with respect to the third stirring chamber 403 .
- the first agitator 311 is disposed above the first wall surface 212
- the second agitator 321 is disposed above the second wall surface 222
- the third agitator 401 is disposed above the third wall surface 505 .
- the first agitator 211 includes the first rotation shaft 311 A, and the plurality of stirring blades 313 which are fixed to the first rotation shaft 311 A.
- the stirring blades 313 are disposed at an angle relative to the axis line of the first rotation shaft 311 A so as to produce a force which conveys toner inward in the axis line direction of the first rotation shaft 311 A when the first rotation shaft 311 A rotates.
- the third agitator 450 includes the third rotation shaft 451 A, and the plurality of stirring blades 452 which are fixed to the third rotation shaft 451 A.
- the stirring blades 452 are disposed at an angle relative to the axis line of the third rotation shaft 451 A so as to produce a force which conveys toner outward in the axis line direction of the third rotation shaft 451 A when the third rotation shaft 401 A rotates.
- the stirring blades 313 and the stirring blades 452 may have a shape which has a spiral surface, a plate shape, or the like.
- the developing unit 470 includes the first stirring chamber 210 that houses the first agitator 311 , the second stirring chamber 220 that houses the second agitator 321 , and the third stirring chamber 403 that houses the third agitator 450 .
- the third stirring chamber 403 which serves as a third conveyance chamber, has a greater width in a direction of the second rotation shaft 321 A of the second agitator 321 than in a direction of the rotation axis of the second agitator 321 of the second stirring chamber 220 , which serves as the second conveyance chamber.
- the third agitator 401 within the third stirring chamber 403 makes it possible to increase the volume of the toner holding chamber. Additionally, because the center of rotation of the third agitator 401 is located near the second line T 302 in the up-down direction, i.e., within the rotational radius of the leading end of the third stirring sheet 402 , the up-down direction size (height) of the developing unit 270 can be reduced. Additionally, the toner pressure at both end parts is reduced by the stirring blades 313 of the first agitator 311 , and thus toner leakage from toner seal portions at the end parts of the developing roller 71 can be prevented.
- the third stirring rod 451 S includes the stirring blades 452 for conveying the toner outward in the axial direction, degradation of the toner can be suppressed, which makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developing unit 270 .
- the side wall surfaces of the third stirring chamber 403 can be located further outward in the left-right direction, which makes it possible to increase the volume of the toner receptacle.
- Embodiment 6 according to the present invention will be described next with reference to FIGS. 25, 26A, 26B, 27A, 27B, and 28 to 31 .
- This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiments in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiments described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.
- FIGS. 25 and 29 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 , according to Embodiment 6.
- FIGS. 26A, 27A, and 28 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which the developing unit 500 , which has been mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 , is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 .
- FIGS. 26B and 27B are perspective views illustrating, from the direction of a cartridge door 520 , a state occurring after the developing unit 500 , in which the photosensitive member unit 260 has been mounted, has been mounted in the apparatus main body 2 .
- FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the developing unit 500 .
- the developing unit 500 is provided with a third agitator 501 , in addition to the configuration of the developing unit 270 described in Embodiment 1.
- the third agitator 501 is disposed within the third stirring chamber 503 , which is provided further to the front than the second stirring chamber 220 .
- the third stirring chamber 503 is a space which holds toner, formed by a third top surface 504 of the stirring chamber, which is provided higher than the third agitator 501 in the gravitational direction, and the third wall surface 505 , which is provided lower than the third agitator 501 in the gravitational direction.
- the third wall surface 505 is a convex wall surface projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to the third agitator 501 .
- a third depressed portion 506 is formed at the boundary between the second wall surface 222 and the third wall surface 505 in the front-rear direction, and the second wall surface 222 and the third wall surface 505 are connected by the third depressed portion 506 .
- the process cartridge is configured so that when the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 , the third stirring chamber 503 of the developing unit 500 projects further to the front than the frame 610 of the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- center of rotation of the third agitator 501 is located higher than the straight line L 1 connecting the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 with the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 .
- the developing unit 500 is mounted in and removed from the apparatus main body while mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- a first engagement portion 507 is provided below the third wall surface 505 in the gravitational direction, as an unevenly-shaped part used for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting between the main body and a plurality of process cartridges having different specifications such as service life, speed, and the like.
- a second engagement portion 508 is provided in the apparatus main body 2 as an unevenly-shaped part corresponding to the first engagement portion 507 .
- the developing unit 500 when a compliant developing unit 500 (i.e., a unit with matching specifications) is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 , the developing unit 500 can be mounted in the apparatus main body 2 without making contact with an unevenly-shaped part provided between the first engagement portion 507 and the second engagement portion 508 .
- a non-compliant developing unit 500 i.e., a unit with different specifications
- the unevenly-shaped part provided between the first engagement portion 507 and the second engagement portion 508 interferes with the mounting. In this case, the developing unit 500 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position in the apparatus main body 2 , as illustrated in FIG. 27A .
- the photosensitive member unit 260 is provided with the photosensitive drum 61 , the frame 610 , and a pressing member 509 .
- the pressing member 509 is provided further to the rear than the third stirring chamber 503 of the developing unit 500 .
- the pressing member 509 presses the developing unit 500 in the direction of the arrow 201 F, and thus presses the developing roller 71 provided in the developing unit 500 toward the photosensitive drum 61 , in a state where the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the above-described rotation stopping roller portion 202 A may be provided in the third depressed portion 506 .
- the above-described rotation stopping roller portion 202 A may be provided in the first depressed portion 231 rather than in the third depressed portion 506 .
- a roller receiving portion 514 having a surface parallel to the direction of the arrow 201 F may be provided in a part of the developing unit 500 that makes contact with the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A.
- the photosensitive member unit 260 is provided with the photosensitive drum 61 , the frame 610 , and the pressing member 509 .
- the pressing member 509 is provided further to the rear than the second stirring chamber 220 of the developing unit 500 .
- the pressing member 509 presses the developing unit 500 in the direction of the arrow 201 F, and thus presses the developing roller 71 provided in the developing unit 500 toward the photosensitive drum 61 , in a state where the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- the pressing member 509 may be provided in the first depressed portion 231 .
- the roller receiving portion 514 with which the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A makes contact, may be provided in the third depressed portion 506 .
- the roller receiving portion 514 may have a surface which is parallel to the direction of the arrow 201 F.
- a handle 510 is disposed above the second stirring chamber 220 in the gravitational direction.
- the handle 510 is fixed, in a rotatable state, to a handle support portion 511 provided in the second top surface 242 of the stirring chambers.
- a new component detection mechanism using the above-described detection member 81 and detection projection 83 may be provided on a plane including the cross-section of the third stirring chamber 503 of the developing unit 500 .
- the developing unit 500 is provided with a first filling port 512 and a second filling port 513 .
- the first filling port 512 is provided between the first agitator 211 and the second agitator 221
- the second filling port 513 is provided between the second agitator 221 and the third agitator 501 .
- a sealing member which includes a shaft portion supporting, in a freely-rotatable state, an idler gear (not shown) for transmitting drive power to the first agitator gear 713 and the second agitator gear 714 illustrated in FIG. 4 and a third agitator gear (not shown), may be used as a means for sealing the first filling port 512 , the second filling port 513 , and so on.
- the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 6 and illustrated in FIGS. 27A and 27B is configured so that the process cartridge can be mounted therein and removed therefrom.
- the third wall surface 505 of the developing unit 500 may include the first engagement portion 507 , which can engage with the second engagement portion 508 included in the apparatus main body 2 (a main body engagement portion).
- the photosensitive member unit 260 includes the pressing member 509 .
- the developing unit 500 has the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) which is pressed by the pressing member 509 .
- the configuration is such that when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 , the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) is at least partially disposed within the third depressed portion 506 , which is surrounded by a tangent line tangent to both the second wall surface 222 and the third wall surface 505 , and the second wall surface 222 , and moreover the third wall surface 505 .
- the configuration may be such that the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) is at least partially disposed within the first depressed portion 231 .
- the configuration is such that when the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 , the third stirring chamber 503 of the developing unit 500 projects further to the front than the frame 610 of the photosensitive member unit 260 .
- a configuration for supporting the developing unit 500 with respect to the photosensitive member unit 260 is the same as in the developing unit 270 . Accordingly, a plurality of developing units having different service lives (toner capacities) can be mounted without changing the photosensitive member unit 260 . This suppresses the number of types of photosensitive member units which are incorporated when manufacturing the process cartridge. The number of molding molds required for the different types of photosensitive member units can therefore be reduced. This also makes it sufficient for an assembly apparatus to handle a comparatively low number of types of photosensitive member units, which simplifies the assembly apparatus and by extension suppresses manufacturing costs.
- the center of rotation of the third agitator 501 is located higher than the straight line L 1 connecting the center of rotation of the first agitator 211 with the center of rotation of the second agitator 221 .
- Toner can therefore be conveyed from the third agitator 501 to the second agitator 221 using the force of gravity.
- the third depressed portion 506 may be eliminated, the third wall surface 505 and the second wall surface 222 may be connected by a sloped surface that slopes downward, in the gravitational direction, from the third wall surface 505 toward the second wall surface 222 , and the toner may be conveyed by sliding along the sloped surface. Additionally, eliminating the third depressed portion 506 makes it possible to increase the filling amount of the toner.
- the apparatus main body 2 and the developing unit 500 can be made compatible or incompatible with each other in that combination.
- compatibility is necessary, multiple combinations of the apparatus main body 2 and the developing unit 500 will be created in situations such as where the number of product types is increased by changing the toner. In this case, if an incompatible developing unit 500 is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 , there is a risk of the apparatus main body 2 malfunctioning.
- the first engagement portion 507 and the second engagement portion 508 are made to interfere with each other when the developing unit is mounted in the apparatus main body 2 , which prevents the developing unit 500 from being mounted in the apparatus main body 2 .
- the first engagement portion 507 is provided in the developing unit 500 instead of the photosensitive member unit 260 , and thus when providing a plurality of developing units having different specifications as products, the photosensitive member unit 260 can be used in common with those units.
- the compatibility is achieved using the unevenness in the relationship between the first engagement portion 507 and the second engagement portion 508 in this embodiment, the means for implementing compatibility is not limited thereto, and a variety of means can be used, including positional relationships, size relationships, and so on.
- the pressing member 509 can be disposed, without wasting space, in the space formed by the frame 610 of the photosensitive member unit 260 and the first depressed portion 231 or the third depressed portion 506 of the developing unit 500 , which makes it possible to press the developing roller 71 toward the photosensitive drum 61 without affecting the size of the apparatus main body 2 .
- the attitude of the developing unit 500 can be stabilized by disposing the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A in a space formed by the frame 610 and a second depressed portion 232 or the first depressed portion 231 of the stirring chambers.
- the developing roller 71 can press against the photosensitive drum 61 in a stable manner. Note that the numbers of the pressing member 509 and the rotation stopping roller portion 202 A are not limited to one.
- the second stirring chamber 220 which is close to a center of gravity 500 G of the developing unit 500 , the load arising when the user grips the developing unit 500 can be reduced.
- the pressing member 509 is provided in the third depressed portion 506 , and thus the third depressed portion 506 and the pressing member 509 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed.
- the third depressed portion 506 of the developing unit 500 is provided in a different location from the pressing member 509 , one of the second wall surface 222 and the third wall surface 505 will contact the pressing member 509 when the developing unit 500 is mounted in the photosensitive member unit 260 . This ensures that the unit cannot be inserted to the fully-mounted position illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B .
- the user can be made aware when the process cartridge is erroneously mounted in the apparatus main body.
- the present invention can be summarized as follows.
- a process cartridge ( 5 ) according to a first aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 );
- a developing unit ( 7 , 270 ) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ),
- photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ) includes:
- a pressing member ( 200 ) that presses the developing unit ( 7 , 270 ) toward the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ),
- the developing unit ( 7 , 270 ) includes:
- a developing roller ( 71 ) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum ( 61 );
- a housing in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed
- a pressing receiving portion ( 231 A) that receives pressing force from the pressing member ( 200 ),
- the housing ( 250 ) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use
- At least part of the pressing receiving portion ( 231 A) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- the developing unit ( 7 , 270 ) preferably further includes:
- a first conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first bottom portion
- a second conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second bottom portion
- the pressing receiving portion ( 231 A) is located between a rotation center of the first conveyance member and a rotation center of the second conveyance member in a horizontal direction.
- a second straight line passing through a rotation center of the developing roller ( 71 ) and the rotation center of the first conveyance member passes through a conveyance chamber that houses the second conveyance member.
- the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ) includes a lift member ( 642 ) that presses and moves the developing unit ( 7 , 270 ), and
- the pressing member ( 200 ) is disposed at a position on further toward a center side of the frame ( 610 ) than the lift member ( 642 ) in a rotation axial direction of the photosensitive drum ( 61 ).
- a process cartridge ( 5 ) according to a second aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 );
- a developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 ),
- photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 ) includes:
- a pressing member ( 201 ) that presses the developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) toward the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 ),
- the developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) includes:
- a developing roller ( 71 ) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum ( 61 );
- a housing in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed
- a pressing receiving portion ( 231 A) that receives pressing force from the pressing member ( 201 ),
- the housing ( 251 ) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space
- a second top surface ( 242 ) provided upward of the first top surface ( 241 ) in a gravitational direction, in a state in use;
- a connecting portion that connects the first top surface ( 241 ) and the second top surface ( 242 ), and
- the connecting portion has an opposing surface opposite the first top surface ( 241 ).
- the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 ) includes a rotation stopping roller portion ( 202 A) that supports the developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) when the developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) is attached to the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 261 ), and
- At least part of the rotation stopping roller portion ( 202 A) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- the developing unit ( 7 , 271 ) further includes:
- a first conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first bottom portion
- a second conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second bottom portion
- a process cartridge ( 5 ) according to a third aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 362 );
- a developing unit ( 7 , 372 ) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 362 ),
- photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 362 ) includes:
- the developing unit ( 7 , 372 ) includes:
- a developing roller ( 71 ) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum ( 61 );
- the housing ( 700 ) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use
- the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion in a state in use
- the first conveyance member includes:
- the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion in state in use
- the second conveyance member includes:
- the first conveyance member has a plurality of the stirring blades ( 313 ), and
- At least part of the slit is located between two adjacent ones of the stirring blades ( 313 ) in the axis line direction.
- the slit includes:
- the slit is arranged to be inclined relative to the axis line of the rotation shaft so as to be extended from the second end toward the first end from the center of the rotation shaft toward an outer side in the axis line direction.
- a process cartridge ( 5 ) according to a fourth aspect of the present invention including:
- a developing unit ( 7 , 470 ) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit ( 6 ),
- photosensitive member unit ( 6 ) includes:
- the developing unit ( 7 , 470 ) includes:
- a developing roller ( 71 ) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum ( 61 );
- a first conveyance member that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the developing roller ( 71 );
- the housing ( 700 ) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space
- a third bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use
- the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion
- the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion
- the third conveyance member is disposed above the third bottom portion, in a state in use.
- the first conveyance member includes:
- the first stirring blade is disposed so as to be inclined at an angle relative to an axis line of the first rotation shaft to produce a force, by which the toner is conveyed inward from two end sides in an axis line direction of the first rotation shaft, when the first rotation shaft rotates.
- the second conveyance member and the third conveyance member includes:
- the second stirring blade is disposed so as to be inclined at an angle relative to an axis line of the second rotation shaft to produce a force, by which the toner is conveyed outward from a center in an axis line direction of the second rotation shaft, when the second rotation shaft rotates.
- the process cartridge ( 5 ) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention wherein preferably the first stirring blade has a plate shape.
- the process cartridge ( 5 ) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention preferably further including:
- a first conveyance chamber that houses the first conveyance member
- a process cartridge ( 5 ) according to a fifth aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 , 362 );
- a developing unit ( 7 , 270 , 372 , 500 ) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 , 362 ),
- the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 , 362 ) includes:
- the developing unit ( 7 , 270 , 372 , 500 ) includes:
- a developing roller ( 71 ) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum ( 61 );
- a first conveyance member that is capable of rotating and that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the developing roller ( 71 );
- a second conveyance member that is capable of rotating and that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the first conveyance member
- the housing ( 700 ) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space
- a third bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use
- the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion
- the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion
- the third conveyance member is disposed above the third bottom portion, in a state in use, and
- At least part of the third bottom portion extends from an end part of the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 , 362 ) at one side opposite to the other side where the photosensitive drum ( 61 ) is located, so as to be further away from the photosensitive drum ( 61 ), in a direction in which a straight line passing through a rotation center of the first conveyance member and a rotation center of the second conveyance member extends.
- the third conveyance member is capable of rotating
- a rotation center of the third conveyance member is located above a straight line connecting the rotation center of the first conveyance member with the rotation center of the second conveyance member, in a state in use.
- the process cartridge ( 5 ) is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and
- the third bottom portion includes an engagement portion that can engage with a main body engagement portion included in the apparatus main body.
- the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ) includes a pressing member ( 509 ),
- the developing unit ( 7 , 500 ) includes a pressing receiving portion ( 514 ) that is pressed by the pressing member ( 509 ), and
- At least part of the pressing receiving portion ( 514 ) is located in a space surrounded by the second bottom portion, the third bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the second bottom portion and an outer wall of the third bottom portion.
- the photosensitive member unit ( 6 , 260 ) includes a pressing member ( 509 ),
- the developing unit ( 7 , 500 ) includes a pressing receiving portion ( 514 ) that is pressed by the pressing member ( 509 ), and
- At least part of the pressing receiving portion ( 514 ) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
- Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
Abstract
A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
Description
- The present invention relates to a cartridge, such as a photosensitive member unit, a developing unit, or the like, which is attachable to or detachable from an image forming apparatus that uses an electrophotographic system.
- In a laser beam printer, a photocopier, or the like serving as an electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed on a photosensitive drum, and this toner image is then transferred to a sheet serving as a recording material to form an image on the recording material.
- In laser beam printers, in order to achieve easier maintenance, a system is widely used in which, with some components of an image forming apparatus being provided in a cartridge, the cartridge is removed to the exterior of the apparatus main body to implement maintenance or replacement.
- Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-224221 discloses a process cartridge which enables a developing unit that contain toner to be attached to and detached from a photosensitive member unit that has a photosensitive drum.
- In process cartridges having a structure which enables a developing unit that contains toner to be attached to and removed from a photosensitive member unit that has a photosensitive drum, there is room for further improvement in a variety of areas, e.g., size, cost, precision, usability, and service life.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a technique which makes it possible to increase the volume of a space containing toner in a process cartridge.
- In order to achieve the object described above, a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:
- a photosensitive member unit; and
- a developing unit that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit,
- wherein the photosensitive member unit includes:
- a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
- a frame that supports the photosensitive drum; and
- a pressing member that presses the developing unit toward the photosensitive member unit,
- the developing unit includes:
- a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum;
- a housing in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed; and
- a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from the pressing member,
- the housing includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space and
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use, and
- when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- According to the present invention, the volume of a space containing toner in a process cartridge can be increased.
- Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge, -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a developing unit, -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit, -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit, -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge, -
FIG. 6 is a top view of the developing unit, -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, -
FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating a detection member, -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing unit, -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, -
FIGS. 11A and 11B are exploded perspective views of a photosensitive member unit, -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit and the photosensitive member unit., -
FIG. 13 is a top view of the developing unit and the photosensitive member unit, -
FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of the process cartridge, -
FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the developing unit and a lift member, -
FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between the lift member and a pressing member, -
FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams illustrating separation of the developing unit, -
FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views of a process cartridge according toEmbodiment 1, -
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according toEmbodiment 2, -
FIG. 20 is a top view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 3, -
FIG. 21 is a top view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 4, -
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 4, -
FIGS. 23A to 23F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of cutouts in a stirring sheet according toEmbodiment 4, -
FIGS. 24A to 24F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of holes in the stirring sheet according toEmbodiment 4, -
FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 4, -
FIGS. 26A and 26B are diagrams illustrating an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams illustrating the image forming apparatus including the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 6, -
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according toEmbodiment 5, -
FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 5, and -
FIG. 34 is a top view of the process cartridge according toEmbodiment 5. - Embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, on the basis of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings. It should be noted, however, that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative dispositions of the constituent elements described in the embodiments are to be changed as appropriate depending on the configurations, conditions, and so on of the apparatus to which the invention is applied. In other words, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described hereinafter.
- First, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings where appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of animage forming apparatus 1 including aprocess cartridge 5. - In the following descriptions, directions are defined on the basis of a user who uses the
image forming apparatus 1. In other words, a front surface side of theimage forming apparatus 1 is referred to as the “front”; a rear surface side, as the “rear”; an upper surface (top surface) side, as “up”; and a lower surface (bottom surface) side, as “down”. Additionally, viewing theimage forming apparatus 1 from the front surface side, a left side of theimage forming apparatus 1 is referred to as “left”, and a right side, as “right”. - The orientation (state) of the
image forming apparatus 1 in each drawing is assumed to be the orientation (state) in use, and thus the same directions as theimage forming apparatus 1 are defined for theprocess cartridge 5, under the assumption that theprocess cartridge 5 is in the same orientation as that used when theprocess cartridge 5 is mounted in theimage forming apparatus 1. Each direction in the drawings is defined by the arrows denoted in the drawings. A front-rear direction, an up-down direction, and a left-right direction indicated by these arrows are directions which are orthogonal to each other. These directions are assumed to be the same throughout all the drawings. The up-down direction is parallel to a vertical direction, and the left-right direction and the front-rear direction are parallel to a horizontal direction. The left-right direction is also parallel to the direction of a rotation axis line of aphotosensitive drum 61 and the direction of a rotation axis line of a developingroller 71. - The
process cartridge 5 is an integrated entity constituted by a developingunit 7 being mounted to aphotosensitive member unit 6. When being mounted in an apparatusmain body 2, theprocess cartridge 5 is inserted in the direction indicated by an arrow S1 in the drawings (a mounting direction), and is removed in the direction indicated by an arrow S2. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , theimage forming apparatus 1 mainly includes: apaper feed portion 3 for supplying a sheet S to the inside of the apparatusmain body 2; anexposure apparatus 4; theprocess cartridge 5, which transfers a toner image onto the sheet S; and a fixingapparatus 8 which thermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet S. Thepaper feed portion 3 mainly includes apaper feed tray 31 provided in a lower part of the apparatusmain body 2, and apaper feed mechanism 32. The sheet S, which is held in thepaper feed tray 31, is fed toward the process cartridge 5 (between thephotosensitive drum 61 and a transfer roller 63) by thepaper feed mechanism 32. Theexposure apparatus 4 is disposed in an upper part of the apparatusmain body 2, and includes a laser light emitting portion (not shown), as well as a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like, which are not given reference signs. Thisexposure apparatus 4 exposes a surface of thephotosensitive drum 61 by scanning the surface of thephotosensitive drum 61 at a high speed with a laser beam that is emitted from the laser light emitting portion and is based on image data. - The
process cartridge 5 is disposed below theexposure apparatus 4. The configuration is such that theprocess cartridge 5 is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2 by being inserted, in an insertion direction S1, into a holdingportion 23 of the apparatusmain body 2 from an opening exposed when a door (an opening/closing member) 21 provided in the apparatusmain body 2 is open (indicated by a dot-dash line inFIG. 1 ). When removing theprocess cartridge 5 from the apparatusmain body 2, theprocess cartridge 5 is moved in a removal direction S2 and removed. Theprocess cartridge 5 mainly includes thephotosensitive member unit 6 and the developingunit 7. Thephotosensitive member unit 6 mainly includes thephotosensitive drum 61, a chargingapparatus 62, and thetransfer roller 63. The developingunit 7 is configured to be removably attached to thephotosensitive member unit 6. The developingunit 7 mainly includes the developingroller 71, asupply roller 72, a layerthickness regulating blade 73, a toner holding portion (developer holding portion) 74 which holds toner (developer), and afirst agitator 75A and asecond agitator 75B provided within thetoner holding portion 74. - An image formation process performed using this
process cartridge 5 will be described next. Thephotosensitive drum 61 is rotationally driven while the image formation process is underway. First, the surface of thephotosensitive drum 61 is uniformly charged by the chargingapparatus 62, and is then exposed by laser light which is emitted from theexposure apparatus 4 and which corresponds to image data, forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on thephotosensitive drum 61. - Meanwhile, the toner within the
toner holding portion 74 is agitated by thesecond agitator 75B and thefirst agitator 75A, and is supplied to the developingroller 71 by thesupply roller 72. The toner supplied to the developingroller 71 advances between the developingroller 71 and the layerthickness regulating blade 73, and is held on the developingroller 71 as a thin layer having a constant thickness. The toner held on the developingroller 71 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on thephotosensitive drum 61. The toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image and becomes a visible image, and a toner image is formed on thephotosensitive drum 61 as a result. The sheet S is then conveyed to the area between thephotosensitive drum 61 and thetransfer roller 63, and the toner image on thephotosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the sheet S. Untransferred toner remaining on thephotosensitive drum 61 at this time is collected by the developingroller 71 and returned to the developingunit 7. - The fixing
apparatus 8 is disposed to the rear of theprocess cartridge 5, and mainly includes aheat roller 92 and apressure roller 91. The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred traverses the fixingapparatus 8, at which time the sheet S is heated and compressed by theheat roller 92 and thepressure roller 91, which fixes the toner image onto the sheet S. The sheet S which has traversed the fixingapparatus 8 is discharged onto apaper discharge tray 22. - The various units of the
process cartridge 5 will be described next. As described above, theprocess cartridge 5 includes thephotosensitive member unit 6, and the developingunit 7 which is attachable to and detachable from thephotosensitive member unit 6. - The configuration of the developing
unit 7 will be described first.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developingunit 7, and is a cross-sectional view taken from a line A-A indicated inFIG. 3 .FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developingunit 7 from above, andFIG. 7 is a perspective view of theprocess cartridge 5 from above.FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the developingunit 7.FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developingunit 7 when mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 6, the cross-section being parallel to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.FIG. 6 is a top view of the developingunit 7, and for the purposes of the descriptions, illustrates a state in which a top surface of ahousing 700 and aside holder 719 have been removed. - As illustrated in
FIG. 2 , the developingunit 7 includes, on the front of thehousing 700 serving as a developing frame body, agrip portion 701 which is gripped by a user, and in a rear part of the developingunit 7, the developingroller 71 is rotatably supported. When describing the configuration of the developingunit 7 hereinafter, the direction of the rotation axis line of the developingroller 71 will be referred to as an “axial direction”. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 6 , the developingroller 71, thesupply roller 72, the first agitator (first stirring member) 75A, and the second agitator (second stirring member) 75B are each rotatably supported at both ends by aleft side wall 704 and aright side wall 705 of thehousing 700. A developingcoupling 710, a developingroller gear 711, asupply roller gear 712, afirst agitator gear 713, asecond agitator gear 714, andidle gears left side wall 704 of thehousing 700. The developingroller gear 711 is fixed to an end part of the developingroller 71, and thesupply roller gear 712 is fixed to an end part of thesupply roller 72. Furthermore, thefirst agitator gear 713 is fixed to an end part of a stirringrod 78A of thefirst agitator 75A (seeFIG. 5 ), and thesecond agitator gear 714 is fixed to an end part of a stirringrod 78B of thesecond agitator 75B (seeFIG. 5 ). - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , the developingunit 7 is provided with a firstelectrical contact point 720A, which is electrically connected to the developingroller 71 and to which a voltage to be applied to the developingroller 71 is supplied, and a secondelectrical contact point 720B, which is electrically connected to thesupply roller 72 and to which a voltage to be applied to thesupply roller 72 is supplied. These electrical contact points supply power to the developingroller 71 and thesupply roller 72 by making contact with power supply points (not shown) provided in the apparatusmain body 2. - In tandem with an action of closing the
door 21 provided in the apparatusmain body 2, a developing drive transmission member (not shown) provided in the apparatusmain body 2 moves to a position for engaging with the developingcoupling 710. Conversely, in tandem with an action of opening thedoor 21, the developing drive transmission member moves to a position of disengaging from the developingcoupling 710. - When the apparatus
main body 2 operates after thedoor 21 has been closed, drive force is transmitted (input) from the developing drive transmission member to the developingcoupling 710, which serves as a drive force receiving member. This drive force enables the developingroller 71 to be rotated via the developingroller gear 711, and thesupply roller 72 to be rotated via thesupply roller gear 712, from a gear provided on an outer circumferential surface of the developingcoupling 710. The developing drive transmission member is configured to be capable of transmitting the drive force to the developingcoupling 710 with an allowance provided for positional skew within a predetermined range of the developingcoupling 710. Movement of the developingcoupling 710, the developingroller gear 711, and thesupply roller gear 712 in the axial direction is regulated by theside holder 719, which is attached to thehousing 700. - The developing
unit 7 stirs the toner within thetoner holding portion 74 using thefirst agitator 75A and thesecond agitator 75B. Thefirst agitator 75A includes the stirringrod 78A and astirring sheet 79A. Thefirst agitator 75A is configured to be capable of rotating by receiving drive force from the developingcoupling 710 via theidle gear 715A, using thefirst agitator gear 713. Thesecond agitator 75B includes the stirringrod 78B and astirring sheet 79B. Thesecond agitator 75B is configured to be capable of rotating by receiving drive force from thefirst agitator gear 713 via theidle gears second agitator gear 714. - The
second agitator 75B supplies toner from within thetoner holding portion 74 to thefirst agitator 75A. Toner in thetoner holding portion 74 which is near thefirst agitator 75A is stirred by thefirst agitator 75A, supplied to thesupply roller 72, and is furthermore supplied to the developingroller 71 by thesupply roller 72. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 7 , adetection portion 80 is provided at a left end part of the developingunit 7. Thedetection portion 80 is included so that a state of adetection member 81 provided within can be detected by a detection mechanism (not shown) provided in the apparatusmain body 2. Whether the developingunit 7 has or has not yet been used can be determined on the basis of the state of thedetection member 81. - Actions of the
detection member 81 will be described with reference toFIGS. 8A and 8B .FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the developingunit 7 taken from the left side. For descriptive purposes, the drawing illustrates a state in which theside holder 719 is removed. As illustrated inFIG. 8A , thedetection member 81 is provided with adetection projection 83 and adetection gear 82. Thedetection gear 82 is a partially-toothed gear, as indicated inFIGS. 8A and 8B . Thedetection member 81 receives drive force from thesecond agitator gear 714 on thedetection gear 82. -
FIG. 8A illustrates a state in which the developingunit 7 has not yet been used. Thedetection projection 83 is located on the upper-front side of thedetection member 81. Additionally, thedetection gear 82 is meshing with thesecond agitator gear 714. When the developingunit 7 is used, thesecond agitator gear 714 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow R3 in the drawing in response to the drive force received by the developingcoupling 710 from the developing drive transmission member of the apparatusmain body 2. Thedetection gear 82 and thesecond agitator gear 714 are meshing at this time, and thus thedetection member 81 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow R4 in the drawing. -
FIG. 8B illustrates a state after thedetection member 81 has rotated. Because thedetection gear 82 is a partially-toothed gear, thedetection member 81 stops rotating when thedetection member 81 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R4 in the drawing and there are no more gear teeth which mesh with thesecond agitator gear 714. Thedetection projection 83 is located on the upper-rear side of thedetection member 81 at this time. Whether the developingunit 7 has or has not been used can be determined by the detection mechanism (not shown) provided in the apparatusmain body 2 detecting the position of thedetection projection 83 of thedetection member 81. -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developingunit 7, seen from below. As illustrated inFIG. 9 ,memory 85 and apositioning projection 86 are provided on a bottom surface of the developingunit 7. Thememory 85 includes a memory chip (not shown) which stores information pertaining to the developingunit 7, and amemory electrode 85A which is conductive with the memory chip. Thememory electrode 85A contacts an electrode (not shown) provided in the apparatusmain body 2, which enables the memory chip and the apparatusmain body 2 to communicate. - The configuration of the
photosensitive member unit 6 will be described in detail next.FIG. 10 is a perspective view of theprocess cartridge 5.FIG. 11A is an exploded perspective view of thephotosensitive member unit 6, andFIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view seen from a line B-B inFIG. 11A .FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developingunit 7 and thephotosensitive member unit 6.FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating positional relationships between thephotosensitive member unit 6, the developingunit 7, and the developingroller 71 in the left-right direction.FIG. 14A is a perspective view of theprocess cartridge 5, taken from below, andFIG. 14B is a perspective view of a positioning portion in an axis line direction of the developingunit 7 and thephotosensitive drum 61 of thephotosensitive member unit 6. For descriptive purposes, only thepositioning projection 86 and thememory 85 of the developingunit 7 are illustrated inFIG. 14B . - As illustrated in
FIG. 10 , thephotosensitive member unit 6 mainly includes aframe 610, which has a pair of side walls, i.e., aleft side wall 611 and aright side wall 612; and thephotosensitive drum 61, which is rotatably supported toward the rear of theframe 610. Theframe 610 includes, toward the front thereof, a mounting portion 615 (seeFIG. 12 ), to which the developingunit 7 can be mounted; agrip portion 617, which a user can use to grip thephotosensitive member unit 6; pressingmembers 640 which press the developingunit 7; and a lift member (movement member) 642, which lifts the developingunit 7. Thelift member 642 presses and moves the developingunit 7 mounted to the mountingportion 615. Thetoner holding portion 74 of the developingunit 7, which is attached to the mountingportion 615, is disposed between theleft side wall 611 and theright side wall 612 in the left-right direction. - A
first positioning projection 660 which projects coaxially with the photosensitive drum from theleft side wall 611, and afirst guide rib 662, are provided toward the rear of theframe 610. Likewise, asecond positioning projection 661 which projects coaxially with the photosensitive drum from theright side wall 612, and asecond guide rib 663, are provided as well (seeFIGS. 10 and 13 ). - The service life of the developing
unit 7, which is determined by the amount of toner held in the developingunit 7, is set to be shorter than the service life of thephotosensitive member unit 6, which is determined by the thickness of a photosensitive layer on thephotosensitive drum 61. As such, it is necessary for a developingunit 7 which has reached the end of its service life to be replaced separately from thephotosensitive member unit 6. In this case, thedoor 21 is opened and theprocess cartridge 5 is removed from the apparatusmain body 2, the developingunit 7 which has reached the end of its service life is removed from thephotosensitive member unit 6, and another developingunit 7 is then attached to thephotosensitive member unit 6 as indicated by a mounting direction AD inFIG. 12 . Then, thephotosensitive member unit 6, to which the developingunit 7 has been attached, is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2 as theprocess cartridge 5. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 7, 10, and 12 , a receivingportion 641, which receives rotationshaft bearing members roller 71, is formed in theleft side wall 611 and theright side wall 612 of theframe 610, further toward the front than thephotosensitive drum 61. The receivingportion 641 is a substantially U-shaped depressed portion which, when viewed from the left side, is open to the front, and a rotation shaft 746 of the developingroller 71 is inserted into the receivingportion 641 during the process of mounting the developingunit 7 to thephotosensitive member unit 6. The receivingportion 641 guides the movement of the developingunit 7 in the mounting direction AD, indicated inFIG. 12 , while supporting the developingunit 7 on thephotosensitive member unit 6. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIG. 13 , projectingportions 643, which project upward, are provided on both end parts, in the left-right direction, of abottom surface 613 of theframe 610. By making contact withribs 718 provided in a bottom part of thehousing 700 of the developing unit 7 (seeFIG. 9 ), the projectingportions 643 support the developingunit 7 in a mobile state. - As illustrated in
FIG. 12 , apositioning hole 68 and acontact opening 69, which are provided in theframe 610, are provided at one end side of thephotosensitive member unit 6 in the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction). Here, “one end side” refers to the same side with respect to a bisecting line following the length of thephotosensitive drum 61 in the left-right direction. When the developingunit 7 is installed in thephotosensitive member unit 6, thepositioning projection 86 of the developingunit 7 is inserted into thepositioning hole 68 of thephotosensitive member unit 6, as illustrated inFIGS. 14A and 14B . Thepositioning projection 86 and thepositioning hole 68 engage in the axis line direction of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction), and the developingunit 7 is positioned relative to thephotosensitive member unit 6 in the left-right direction as a result. Additionally, thememory 85 of the developingunit 7 is exposed on a lower part of theprocess cartridge 5 via thecontact opening 69 in thephotosensitive drum 61. - Here, as illustrated in
FIGS. 11A and 14B , adepressed portion 90L, which has a box shape, is provided in theframe 610 of thephotosensitive member unit 6, at one end side in the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction). Seen from the direction of the rotation axis line of the photosensitive drum 61 (the left-right direction), thedepressed portion 90L is provided in a position overlapping with thepositioning hole 68. Thedepressed portion 90L reinforces a segment in the periphery of thepositioning hole 68 which is weakened by thepositioning hole 68 being provided, and thus increases the strength. As illustrated inFIG. 11B , a depth D2 of thedepressed portion 90L is deeper than a depth D1 of thepositioning hole 68, which increases the reinforcement effect. According to this configuration, the strength around thepositioning hole 68 of thephotosensitive member unit 6 is increased, and the precision with which thepositioning projection 86 of the developingunit 7 and thepositioning hole 68 of thephotosensitive member unit 6 position those units in the left-right direction is increased. The precision with which thememory electrode 85A of thememory 85 and the electrode provided in the apparatusmain body 2 are positioned also increases as a result, thus ensuring reliable electrode-to-electrode contact. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 11A and 14B , asheet member 93L is provided on thephotosensitive drum 61 side of thedepressed portion 90L. A leading end part 93LA of thesheet member 93L makes contact with thephotosensitive drum 61. According to this configuration, unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have adhered to the surface of thephotosensitive drum 61 when forming an image are removed by the leading end part 93LA, which prevents image defects. In this configuration, the unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have been removed fall into and are collected in thedepressed portion 90L. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of image defects caused by foreign objects scattering and soiling theprocess cartridge 5, foreign objects falling onto the sheet S, and so on. Using thedepressed portion 90L as a reinforcement structure and to collect foreign objects in this manner eliminates the need to provide a configuration for collecting foreign objects separate from thedepressed portion 90L, and makes it possible to make the cartridge smaller, simplify the configuration, and so on. - As illustrated in
FIG. 12 , aforeign object box 90R, which includes a box-shaped depressed portion, is provided on the opposite side of thephotosensitive member unit 6 from thepositioning hole 68, in the left-right direction. Asheet member 93R is provided on thephotosensitive drum 61 side of theforeign object box 90R. A leading end part 93RA of thesheet member 93R makes contact with thephotosensitive drum 61. Like the above-describedsheet member 93L, unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have adhered to the surface of thephotosensitive drum 61 when forming an image are removed by the leading end part 93RA, which prevents image defects. The unnecessary toner, foreign objects such as paper dust, and so on which have been removed fall into and are collected in theforeign object box 90R. - As illustrated in
FIG. 12 , thepressing members 640 are provided toward the front of theframe 610, on both end parts of theframe 610 in the left-right direction. Thepressing members 640 are biased toward the rear from the front bycompression springs 640A serving as biasing members. Accordingly, under the biasing force of the compression springs 640A, thepressing members 640 press pressedribs housing 700 of the developingunit 7. The developingroller 71 is biased toward thephotosensitive drum 61 as a result of the developingunit 7 being pressed by thepressing members 640. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 12 and 7 , adepressed portion 664 is provided in theleft side wall 611 of thephotosensitive member unit 6, and thedetection portion 80 of the developingunit 7 is located in thedepressed portion 664. Providing thedepressed portion 664 lowers the rigidity of theframe 610, and thus thefirst guide rib 662 is disposed therebelow so as to partially overlap therewith. Thefirst guide rib 662 acts as a reinforcement member, which makes it possible to reduce the drop in the rigidity of theframe 610. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 11A and 11B , a photosensitive member gear (first gear) 65 and a transfer gear (second gear) 66 are fixed to a left end part of thephotosensitive drum 61, and are configured to rotate integrally with thephotosensitive drum 61. When theprocess cartridge 5 is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2, a drive gear (not shown) of the apparatusmain body 2 meshes with thephotosensitive member gear 65, and as a result, drive force is transmitted to and enables the rotation of thephotosensitive drum 61 and thetransfer gear 66. Furthermore, thetransfer gear 66 meshes with a transfer roller gear (third gear) 67 fixed to a left end part of thetransfer roller 63, and thetransfer roller 63 can therefore also rotate. -
FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the developingunit 7 and thelift member 642.FIGS. 16A and 16B are top views of thephotosensitive member unit 6 in which the developingunit 7 is mounted, whereFIG. 16A illustrates thelift member 642 in a see-through state, andFIG. 16B illustrates thelift member 642 in a non-see-through state.FIGS. 17A and 17B are cross-sectional views of thephotosensitive member unit 6 and the developingunit 7, the cross-sections being parallel to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.FIG. 17A illustrates a state in which the developingunit 7 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 6, andFIG. 17B illustrates a state in which the developingunit 7 is placed on top of thephotosensitive member unit 6. The developingunit 7 which is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 6 is moved to a lifted-up state by a lift mechanism, and is then removed from thephotosensitive member unit 6. The lift mechanism will be described in detail below. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 15, 17A, and 17B , at least part of thelift member 642 is rotatably supported by theright side wall 612 in a state where thelift member 642 receives a force from acompression spring 650, while being disposed to the front of thehousing 700 of the developingunit 7. Additionally, thelift member 642 is disposed so as to at least partially overlap, in the front-rear direction, with theright side wall 705 of thehousing 700 which holds toner and thepressing member 640. Arotation axis line 642X of thelift member 642 is parallel to the left-right direction (the axis line direction of the photosensitive drum 61). Thelift member 642 is biased by the force from thecompression spring 650 to rotate in the direction R1. - When a user presses an
operation portion 642A of thelift member 642 against the force of thecompression spring 650 and rotates thelift member 642 in the direction R2, thelift member 642 presses a projectingportion 751 and causes the developingunit 7 to move in a separation direction LD, separating from thephotosensitive member unit 6. This creates a state in which the developingunit 7 can be removed from thephotosensitive member unit 6. Theoperation portion 642A is disposed on the right end part side (one end part side) of thephotosensitive member unit 6. - As illustrated in
FIG. 17A , in a mounted state in which the developingunit 7 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 6, the developingroller 71 is pressed toward thephotosensitive drum 61 as a result of thehousing 700 being pressed by thepressing members 640. Additionally, the developingunit 7 is locked so as not to separate from thephotosensitive member unit 6 by thepressing members 640. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , one end of thelift member 642 moves a contact surface (contact region) 751A of the projectingportion 751 of thehousing 700 upward. Accordingly, the developingunit 7 can be moved from a mounted position, in which the developingunit 7 is mounted to the mounting portion 615 (seeFIG. 12 ), in the separation direction LD, and can be separated from thephotosensitive member unit 6. - As illustrated in
FIG. 17B , when a front part of the developingunit 7 separates from thephotosensitive member unit 6, the developingunit 7 is held in a provisionally-supported position, in which a supported surface 700 c of thehousing 700 is supported by a holdingportion 640B of thepressing members 640. In the developingunit 7 which is in this provisionally-supported position, the rotationshaft bearing member 746B (746A) of the developingroller 71 is supported by the receivingportion 641. This state will be called a “lifted-up state”. At this time, the lock (i.e., the developingunit 7 being restricted from being removed from the photosensitive member unit 6) is canceled. If, in this lifted-up state, the user grips thegrip portion 701 and lifts the developingunit 7 upward, the developingunit 7 can be removed from thephotosensitive member unit 6 without moving other members or the like. In this manner, the user can remove the developingunit 7 from thephotosensitive member unit 6 and mount a new developingunit 7 in thephotosensitive member unit 6. -
Embodiment 1 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIGS. 18A and 18B . Note that this embodiment will describe, in detail, parts that differ from the configurations of theimage forming apparatus 1 and theprocess cartridge 5 described above. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as theimage forming apparatus 1 and theprocess cartridge 5 described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional view of a pressing configuration of a developingunit 270 implemented by a pressingmember 200 when the developingunit 270 is mounted in aphotosensitive member unit 260, according toEmbodiment 1.FIG. 18B is a detailed partial view illustrating afirst wall surface 212 and asecond wall surface 222 indicated inFIG. 18A . Thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 will be described later. - As illustrated in
FIG. 18A , thephotosensitive member unit 260 is provided with thephotosensitive drum 61, theframe 610, and thepressing member 200. The pressingmember 200 is a pressing member that presses the developingroller 71 provided in the developingunit 270 toward thephotosensitive drum 61 in a state where the developingunit 270 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. - The
photosensitive member unit 260 is provided with a paperdust removal roller 64A, a paperdust collection roller 64B, and a paperdust collection chamber 64C. The paperdust removal roller 64A makes contact with thephotosensitive drum 61, and is disposed downstream, in the rotation direction of thephotosensitive drum 61, from thetransfer roller 63, and upstream, in the rotation direction of thephotosensitive drum 61, from the chargingapparatus 62. The paperdust collection roller 64B makes contact with the paperdust removal roller 64A, and is disposed further toward the rear than the paperdust removal roller 64A. The paperdust collection chamber 64C is an enclosed space formed by the paperdust collection roller 64B and theframe 610. The paperdust removal roller 64A removes paper dust remaining on thephotosensitive drum 61 from thephotosensitive drum 61 after the toner image on thephotosensitive drum 61 has been transferred onto the sheet S (not shown). The paper dust removed by the paperdust removal roller 64A is collected in the paperdust collection chamber 64C by the paperdust collection roller 64B. - A
first agitator 211 and asecond agitator 221 are provided within the developingunit 270. Thefirst agitator 211 is disposed within afirst stirring chamber 210 provided further to the front than the developingroller 71 and thesupply roller 72. Thesecond agitator 221 is disposed within asecond stirring chamber 220 provided further to the front than thefirst stirring chamber 210. - The
first stirring chamber 210 is a space which holds toner, formed by atop surface 240 of the stirring chambers, which is provided higher than thefirst agitator 211 in the gravitational direction, and thefirst wall surface 212, which is provided lower than thefirst agitator 211 in the gravitational direction. Thesecond stirring chamber 220 is a space which holds toner, formed by thetop surface 240 of the stirring chambers, and thesecond wall surface 222, which is provided lower than thesecond agitator 221 in the gravitational direction. At least part of thefirst wall surface 212 is a convex (arc-shaped) wall surface (bottom part) projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to thefirst agitator 211. Likewise, at least part of thesecond wall surface 222 is a convex (arc-shaped) wall surface (bottom part) projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to thesecond agitator 221. - As illustrated in
FIG. 18B , thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 are convex wall surfaces projecting downward in the gravitational direction, and thus a common tangent T203 (the broken line) can be drawn connecting the outer wall surfaces of the bottom parts of thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222. Here, a region enclosed within the common tangent T203, thefirst wall surface 212, and the second wall surface 222 (the region crosshatched with vertical and horizontal lines) is defined as a firstdepressed portion 231. - The first
depressed portion 231 is formed at the boundary between thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 in the front-rear direction, and thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 are connected by the firstdepressed portion 231. The firstdepressed portion 231 is disposed between centers of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 and thesecond agitator 221 in the front-rear direction. Apressing receiving portion 231A which receives the pressing from the pressingmember 200 is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231. When thepressing receiving portion 231A receives pressing force from the pressingmember 200 in the direction of a first line T201, the developingroller 71 makes contact with thephotosensitive drum 61 at a predetermined contact pressure. Here, the first line T201 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which passes through thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222. - The center of rotation of the
second agitator 221 is located near a second line T202 in the up-down direction. Here, the second line T202 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which connects the centers of rotation of the developingroller 71 and thefirst agitator 211. The second line T202 passes through thesecond stirring chamber 220. - The
pressing receiving portion 231A and thepressing member 200 are preferably provided at both end parts of theframe 610 in the left-right direction, from the standpoint of stabilizing the left-right distribution of the contact pressure from the developingroller 71 on thephotosensitive drum 61. On the other hand, from the standpoint of costs, the number of components can be reduced by providing thepressing receiving portion 231A and thepressing member 200 near the center of theframe 610 in the left-right direction. - Furthermore, from the standpoint of further stabilizing the contact pressure, the pressing receiving
portion 231A and thepressing member 200 may be provided at both ends and near the center of theframe 610, in the left-right direction. Additionally, from the standpoint of making the developingunit 270 smaller in the left-right direction, the pressing receivingportion 231A and thepressing member 200 may be disposed further toward the center of theframe 610 in the left-right direction than thelift member 642, and may be disposed overlapping in the left-right direction within a range that does not protrude beyond the outer part of thelift member 642. - In this manner, the
process cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 1 illustrated inFIGS. 18A and 18B includes thephotosensitive member unit 260 and the developingunit 270 which is attachable to and detachable from thephotosensitive member unit 260. Thephotosensitive member unit 260 includes: thephotosensitive drum 61, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; theframe 610, which supports thephotosensitive drum 61; and thepressing member 200, which presses the developingunit 270 toward thephotosensitive member unit 260. The developingunit 270 includes: the developingroller 71, which supplies toner to thephotosensitive member unit 260 and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum; ahousing 250 in which thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 that hold toner (holding spaces) are formed; and thepressing receiving portion 231A, which receives the pressing from the pressingmember 200. - The
housing 250 includes: the arc-shaped (downwardly-convex) first wall surface 212 (first bottom portion outer wall), which projects outward with respect to thefirst stirring chamber 210; and the arc-shaped (downwardly-convex) second wall surface 222 (second bottom portion outer wall), which projects outward with respect to thesecond stirring chamber 220. The configuration is such that when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (facing the drawing head-on), the pressing receivingportion 231A is at least partially disposed within the firstdepressed portion 231, which is surrounded by the common tangent T203 tangent to both thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222, and thefirst wall surface 212, and moreover thesecond wall surface 222. - This allows the
pressing member 200 to be disposed within the firstdepressed portion 231, which normally would be dead space, and the developingunit 270 can therefore be made smaller. In other words, the volume of the space for holding the toner can be increased without increasing the size of the developing unit. - Additionally, the developing
unit 270 according toEmbodiment 1 includes, as members which convey the toner within the holding space of the housing 250: the first agitator 211 (a first conveyance member), which conveys the toner by rotating in a state of contacting with an inner wall of thefirst wall surface 212; and the second agitator 221 (a second conveyance member), which conveys the toner by rotating in a state of contacting with an inner wall of thesecond wall surface 222. Thepressing receiving portion 231A is disposed between the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 and the center of rotation of thesecond agitator 221, in the horizontal direction. - Additionally, in the
process cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 1, when an extension line that passes through a point where thepressing member 200 makes contact with thepressing receiving portion 231A and that is parallel to the pressing direction of thepressing member 200 is taken as the first line T201, the first line T201 passes through (crosses) thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222. Additionally, in theprocess cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 1, when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developingroller 71, the second line T202, which passes through the center of rotation of the developingroller 71 and the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211, also passes through thesecond stirring chamber 220, which serves as a conveyance chamber housing thesecond agitator 221. - In the
process cartridge 5 according to this embodiment, the pressingmember 200 is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231, and as a result, the pressing receivingportion 231A receives pressing force from the pressingmember 200 in the direction of the first line T201. Thepressing receiving portion 231A is provided closer to the developingroller 71 than thesecond wall surface 222 in the front-rear direction (i.e., further to the rear). Accordingly, deformation of thehousing 250 caused by the pressing force can be suppressed in a configuration in which thesecond wall surface 222, which is provided further from the developing roller 71 (further to the front) than thefirst wall surface 212 in the front-rear direction, is pressed. As a result, loss of contact pressure from the developingroller 71 on thephotosensitive drum 61 caused by deformation in thehousing 250 can be suppressed. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the pressing
member 200 is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231, and thus more space can be conserved in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) than when thepressing member 200 is provided to the front of thesecond wall surface 222. Additionally, theprocess cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 1 can conserve more space in the up-down direction than in a configuration where thepressing member 200 is biased by a part, of either thefirst wall surface 212 or thesecond wall surface 222, located lower than the firstdepressed portion 231 in the gravitational direction. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the center of rotation of the
second agitator 221 is located near the second line T202 in the up-down direction. The second line T202 is inclined more toward a horizontal line (the front-rear direction) than a vertical line (the up-down direction), and thus an elevation difference between thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 in the up-down direction can be kept small. The up-down direction size (the height) of the developingunit 270 can therefore be made small, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the up-down direction sizes (the heights) of theprocess cartridge 5 and theimage forming apparatus 1. Additionally, because the height from which the toner falls when the toner is conveyed from thesecond stirring chamber 220 to thefirst stirring chamber 210 by thesecond agitator 221 is kept low, an increase in powder pressure produced when the toner accumulates in the up-down direction can be prevented. This suppresses degradation caused by an increase in the powder pressure of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developingunit 270. - Additionally, in this embodiment, by disposing the
pressing receiving portion 231A and thepressing member 200 closer to the center of theframe 610 than thelift member 642 in the left-right direction, the left-right direction size (the width) of the developingunit 270 can be made small. This makes it possible to reduce the left-right direction sizes (widths) of theprocess cartridge 5 and theimage forming apparatus 1. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the pressing
member 200 is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231, and thus the firstdepressed portion 231 and thepressing member 200 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed. Specifically, if the firstdepressed portion 231 of the developingunit 270 is provided in a different location of the photosensitive member unit from the pressingmember 200, one of thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 will contact thepressing member 200 when the developingunit 270 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. In such a case, the developingunit 270 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position such as that illustrated inFIG. 18A , which enables the user to recognize that the developingunit 270 has been erroneously mounted. -
Embodiment 2 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIG. 19 . This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiment in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiment described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a pressing configuration of a developingunit 271 implemented by a pressingmember 201 when the developingunit 271 is mounted in aphotosensitive member unit 261, according toEmbodiment 2. - As illustrated in
FIG. 19 , thephotosensitive member unit 261 is provided with thephotosensitive drum 61, theframe 610, and thepressing member 201. The pressingmember 201 is provided further to the front than ahousing 251 of the developingunit 271, and presses thehousing 251 in the direction of anarrow 201F in a state where the developingunit 271 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 261. Here, thearrow 201F indicates a pressing force vector over which the developingroller 71 provided in the developingunit 271 is pressed toward thephotosensitive drum 61. Anarrow 201H and anarrow 201V represent a horizontal component (front-rear direction partial force component) and a vertical component (up-down direction partial force component), respectively, of thepressing force vector 201F. The horizontalpressing force component 201H is oriented in a direction facing from the front side toward the rear side, and the verticalpressing force component 201V is oriented in a direction facing from the top side toward the bottom side. - A
rotation stopping portion 202, serving as a substitute for the projectingportions 643 illustrated inFIG. 13 , is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231 of the developingunit 271. Therotation stopping portion 202 restricts the rotational action of the developingunit 271 relative to thephotosensitive member unit 261. Therotation stopping portion 202 is constituted by a rotation stopping roller portion 202A, and aroller support portion 202B which supports the rotation stopping roller portion 202A. The rotation stopping roller portion 202A is supported so as to be capable of rotating relative to theroller support portion 202B, and has a cylindrical or spherical shape. Theroller support portion 202B is fixed to and supported by theframe 610. By making contact with thepressing receiving portion 231A, the rotation stopping roller portion 202A supports the developingunit 271 so as to be mobile relative to thephotosensitive member unit 261. - At this time, the pressing receiving
portion 231A receives a counterforce from the rotation stopping roller portion 202A in the direction of an arrow 202F. In other words, the arrow 202F represents a vector of a rotation stopping contact force which restricts the freedom with which the developingunit 271 rotates about the developingroller 71. Anarrow 202H and anarrow 202V represent a horizontal component (front-rear direction partial force component) and a vertical component (up-down direction partial force component), respectively, of the rotation stopping contact force 202F. Thehorizontal component 202H is oriented in a direction facing from the front side toward the rear side, and thevertical component 202V is oriented in a direction facing from the bottom side toward the top side. - The
pressing receiving portion 231A and therotation stopping portion 202 are preferably provided at both end parts of theframe 610 in the left-right direction, from the standpoint of stabilizing the left-right distribution of the contact pressure from the developingroller 71 on thephotosensitive drum 61. On the other hand, from the standpoint of costs, the number of components can be reduced by providing thepressing receiving portion 231A and therotation stopping portion 202 near the center of theframe 610 in the left-right direction. - Furthermore, from the standpoint of further stabilizing the contact pressure, the pressing receiving
portion 231A and therotation stopping portion 202 may be provided at both ends and near the center of theframe 610, in the left-right direction. Additionally, from the standpoint of making the developingunit 271 smaller in the left-right direction, the pressing receivingportion 231A and therotation stopping portion 202 may be disposed further toward the center of theframe 610 in the left-right direction than thelift member 642, and may be disposed overlapping in the left-right direction within a range that does not protrude beyond the outer part of thelift member 642. - The
first stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 of the developingunit 271 are respectively constituted by thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222, which form a bottom surface on the lower side in the gravitational direction, and a firsttop surface 241 and a secondtop surface 242, which form a top surface on the upper side in the gravitational direction. The firsttop surface 241 and the secondtop surface 242 are connected by an intersectingportion 242A, which is a leading end part of the secondtop surface 242 on the rear side thereof. The intersectingportion 242A has a shape which extends from the front side toward the rear side in the secondtop surface 242, and is therefore disposed so as to overlap with the firsttop surface 241 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the intersectingportion 242A and the firsttop surface 241 are provided intersecting in the front-rear direction. - In this manner, the
process cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 2 illustrated inFIG. 19 includes thephotosensitive member unit 261 and the developingunit 271 which is attachable to and detachable from thephotosensitive member unit 261. Thephotosensitive member unit 261 includes: thephotosensitive drum 61; theframe 610, which supports thephotosensitive drum 61; and therotation stopping portion 202, which presses the developingunit 271 toward thephotosensitive member unit 261. The developingunit 271 includes: the developingroller 71; thehousing 251, in which thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 which hold toner are formed; and thepressing receiving portion 231A which receives the pressing from therotation stopping portion 202. - The
housing 251 includes: the arc-shapedfirst wall surface 212, which projects outward with respect to thefirst stirring chamber 210; the arc-shapedsecond wall surface 222, which projects outward with respect to thesecond stirring chamber 220; the firsttop surface 241, which is provided on the upper side in the gravitational direction; the secondtop surface 242, which is provided higher in the gravitational direction than the firsttop surface 241 and which is disposed so as to partially overlap with the firsttop surface 241 when viewed from above; and the intersectingportion 242A (a connecting portion), which connects the firsttop surface 241 and the secondtop surface 242. The intersectingportion 242A has an opposingsurface 242B which opposes the firsttop surface 241 below the secondtop surface 242. Thus as illustrated inFIG. 19 , a user can insert their finger into the recess created by the overlap between the firsttop surface 241 and the secondtop surface 242 when viewed from above, and by gripping the secondtop surface 242 from above while supporting the opposingsurface 242B from below, that part can be used as a handle when mounting and removing the developingunit 271. - Additionally, the
rotation stopping portion 202 according toEmbodiment 2 includes the rotation stopping roller portion 202A, which supports the developingunit 271 when the developingunit 271 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 261. When viewed if a direction of the rotation axis of the developingroller 71, the rotation stopping roller portion 202A is disposed in the firstdepressed portion 231, as inEmbodiment 1. This allows therotation stopping portion 202 to be disposed within the firstdepressed portion 231, which normally would be dead space, and the developingunit 271 can therefore be made smaller. In other words, the volume of the space for holding the toner can be increased without increasing the size of the developingunit 271. - According to this embodiment, by providing the
rotation stopping portion 202 in the firstdepressed portion 231, the pressing receivingportion 231A receives pressing force of the rotation stopping contact force 202F from therotation stopping portion 202. Theprocess cartridge 5 according toEmbodiment 2 can conserve more space in the up-down direction than in a configuration where therotation stopping portion 202 supports a part, of either thefirst wall surface 212 or thesecond wall surface 222, located lower than the firstdepressed portion 231 in the gravitational direction. - Furthermore, in this embodiment, the
horizontal component 202H acting on the developingunit 271 from therotation stopping portion 202 is oriented in the same direction as the horizontalpressing force component 201H, i.e., in the direction from the front toward the rear. Accordingly, a biasing force of the developingroller 71 acting on thephotosensitive drum 61 is added by thehorizontal component 202H, which makes it possible to further stabilize the state of contact between the developingroller 71 and thephotosensitive drum 61. - Additionally, the means with which the developing
roller 71 contacts thephotosensitive drum 61 is distributed between thepressing member 201 and therotation stopping portion 202, which keeps the compression spring force of thepressing member 201 low. Keeping the compression spring force of thepressing member 201 low makes it possible to suppress creep deformation in theframe 610 occurring when theprocess cartridge 5 is left standing for a long time, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the strength required of theframe 610. Costs can therefore be reduced by making theframe 610 thinner and so on. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the intersecting
portion 242A intersects with the firsttop surface 241 of the stirring chambers in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, when the developingunit 271 is mounted to and removed from thephotosensitive member unit 261, the intersectingportion 242A can be used as a handle of the developingunit 271, which a user can hook their finger on and grip. This makes it possible to conserve more space in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) than with a configuration in which a handle of the developingunit 271 is provided further to the front than thesecond wall surface 222. Furthermore, a location closer to a center ofgravity 251G of the developingunit 271 in the horizontal direction (the front-rear direction) can be gripped than with a configuration in which a handle of the developingunit 271 is provided further to the front than thesecond wall surface 222. Accordingly, a burden placed on the wrist when mounting and removing the developingunit 271 to and from thephotosensitive member unit 261, i.e., a load of moment about the wrist produced when gripping the developingunit 271, can be reduced. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the
rotation stopping portion 202 is provided in the firstdepressed portion 231, and thus the firstdepressed portion 231 and therotation stopping portion 202 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed. Specifically, if the firstdepressed portion 231 of the developingunit 271 is provided in a different location from therotation stopping portion 202, one of thefirst wall surface 212 and thesecond wall surface 222 will contact therotation stopping portion 202 when the developingunit 271 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 261. In such a case, the developingunit 271 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position such as that illustrated inFIG. 18A , which enables the user to recognize that the developingunit 271 has been erroneously mounted. -
Embodiment 3 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIG. 20 . This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiments in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiments described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.FIG. 20 is a top view illustrating a positional relationship between thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 in the left-right direction, when a developingunit 272 is mounted in aphotosensitive member unit 262, according toEmbodiment 3. Note that thetop surface 240 of the stirring chambers is not shown in order to illustrate the internal structures of thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220. - As illustrated in
FIG. 20 , thefirst stirring chamber 210, which serves as a first conveyance chamber, has a first stirring chamberlongitudinal width 213H from theleft side wall 704 of the developingunit 272 to a first stirringchamber side wall 213, in the left-right direction. Likewise, thesecond stirring chamber 220, which serves as a second conveyance chamber, has a second stirring chamberlongitudinal width 223H from theleft side wall 704 to a second stirringchamber side wall 223, in the left-right direction. The second stirring chamberlongitudinal width 223H is longer than the first stirring chamberlongitudinal width 213H. - At least part of the
pressing member 200 or thelift member 642 overlaps with a space between the first stirringchamber side wall 213 and the second stirringchamber side wall 223 in the left-right direction. In other words, the pressingmember 200 and thelift member 642 are disposed, in the left-right direction, further from the center of the developingunit 272 in the left-right direction than the first stirringchamber side wall 213. Additionally, at least part of thepressing member 200 or thelift member 642 is located closer, in the left-right direction, to the center of the developingunit 272 in the left-right direction than the second stirringchamber side wall 223. - The pressing
member 200 or thelift member 642 is disposed further to the rear than thesecond stirring chamber 220 and further to the front than the developingroller 71, in the front-rear direction. - Although the
pressing member 200 is provided on the left side of thelift member 642 in this embodiment, from the standpoint of usability when removing the developing unit, the positional relationship in the left-right direction can be reversed, i.e., the pressingmember 200 can be provided on the right side of thelift member 642. Additionally, although thepressing member 200 and thelift member 642 are, in this embodiment, disposed so as to at least partially overlap in the area between the first stirringchamber side wall 213 and the second stirringchamber side wall 223 in the left-right direction, the pressingmember 200 may be disposed in the firstdepressed portion 231 described inEmbodiment 2. - Thus like the above-described embodiments, the developing
unit 272 according toEmbodiment 3 and illustrated inFIG. 20 includes thefirst agitator 211 that conveys toner, thesecond agitator 221 that conveys toner, thefirst stirring chamber 210 that houses thefirst agitator 211, and thesecond stirring chamber 220 that houses thesecond agitator 221. The second stirring chamberlongitudinal width 223H of thesecond stirring chamber 220, which is a width in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller, is greater than the first stirring chamberlongitudinal width 213H of thefirst stirring chamber 210, which is a width in a direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller. - The
lift member 642 is provided further from the left-right direction center of the developingunit 272 than the first stirringchamber side wall 213 in the left-right direction, and is provided between thesecond stirring chamber 220 and the developingroller 71 in the front-rear direction. Thelift member 642 can therefore be seen from the same perspective as that illustrated in the top view inFIG. 20 , i.e., from the top surface side of the developingunit 272, which makes it possible to ensure that thelift member 642 is visible when removing the developingunit 272 from thephotosensitive member unit 262. - The second stirring chamber
longitudinal width 223H is made longer than the first stirring chamberlongitudinal width 213H, and thus the volume of the toner held in thesecond stirring chamber 220 can be increased by an amount equivalent to the difference between the second stirring chamberlongitudinal width 223H and the first stirring chamberlongitudinal width 213H. This makes it possible to further increase the service life of the developingunit 272. -
Embodiment 4 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIGS. 21, 22, 23A to 23F and 24A to 24F . This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiments in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiments described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.FIGS. 21 and 22 are a top view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, illustrating a developer conveyance configuration when a developingunit 372 is mounted in aphotosensitive member unit 362, according toEmbodiment 4. Note that thetop surface 240 of the stirring chambers is not shown in order to illustrate the internal structures of thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 21 and 22 , afirst agitator 311, which is capable of rotating, is provided in thefirst stirring chamber 210. Thefirst agitator 311 includes afirst stirring rod 311S, afirst rotation shaft 311A extending in the left-right direction, afirst stirring sheet 312 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and a plurality of stirringblades 313, and supplies toner to thesupply roller 72 by rotating about thefirst rotation shaft 311A.Holes 312H are provided in a plurality of locations in thefirst stirring sheet 312, at intervals in a longitudinal direction of thefirst stirring sheet 312, to adjust the force with which the toner is supplied. - The
first stirring rod 311S is provided with the stirringblades 313 to convey the toner in thefirst stirring chamber 210 to a central part. Toner which has accumulated on thesupply roller 72 is again expelled into thefirst stirring chamber 210 by rubbing against the developingroller 71. Some of this expelled toner is conveyed to both end sides of thesupply roller 72 in the axial direction thereof. Thefirst stirring rod 311S is provided with the stirringblades 313 to return this toner, which has been conveyed to both end sides, back to the central part of thefirst stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction. - A plurality of the
stirring blades 313 are provided on thefirst stirring rod 311S, at intervals along the left-right direction of thefirst stirring rod 311S. In this embodiment, six of thestirring blades 313 are provided. The stirringblades 313 according to this embodiment are plate-shaped members having semi-oval shapes, and are configured so that a normal line at anintersection point 311P where the stirringblades 313 intersect with thefirst rotation shaft 311A intersects with thefirst rotation shaft 311A at an angle 313θ. The threestirring blades 313 on the right side are provided so that the angle 313θ is in the counterclockwise direction relative to thefirst rotation shaft 311A, and the threestirring blades 313 on the left side are provided so that the angle 313θ is in the clockwise direction relative to thefirst rotation shaft 311A. In other words, the sixstirring blades 313 are provided with bilateral symmetry. Accordingly, when thefirst stirring rod 311S rotates, the toner at the end parts of thefirst stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction is subject to a conveyance force, moving toward the center in the left-right direction, from the stirringblades 313. - Additionally, a
second agitator 321, which is capable of rotating, is provided in thesecond stirring chamber 220. Thesecond agitator 321 includes asecond rotation shaft 321A extending in the left-right direction and asecond stirring sheet 322 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from thesecond stirring chamber 220 toward thefirst stirring chamber 210 by rotating about thesecond rotation shaft 321A. Thesecond stirring sheet 322 haslinear cutouts 322C extending in a direction having aset angle 3220 relative to thesecond rotation shaft 321A. - In this embodiment, six of the
cutouts 322C are provided, and thecutouts 322C are positioned between the intersection points 311P between thestirring blades 313 and thefirst rotation shaft 311A, in the left-right direction. The amount of toner conveyed by thesecond agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by thefirst agitator 311. The threecutouts 322C on the right side are provided so that the angle 322θ is in the counterclockwise direction relative to thesecond rotation shaft 321A, and the threecutouts 322C on the left side are provided so that the angle 322θ is in the clockwise direction relative to thesecond rotation shaft 321A. In other words, the sixcutouts 322C are provided with bilateral symmetry. - The stirring
blades 313 described in this embodiment are examples, and the shape and number of thestirring blades 313 can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the stirring performance. For example, although thestirring blades 313 have semi-oval plate shapes in this embodiment, the stirringblades 313 may have screw shapes with an angle of torsion relative to thefirst rotation shaft 311A, shapes with unevenness in the sides or on the surfaces, and so on. Furthermore, the shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and angles in which the surfaces are oriented can also be varied among the plurality of stirringblades 313 from the standpoint of changing the circulation performance at each of positions in the left-right direction. It is furthermore not absolutely necessary for the plurality of stirringblades 313 to be located at equal intervals, nor is it absolutely necessary for the directions of the normal lines of the surface to be the same at each of the intersection points 311P. - Additionally, although this embodiment describes the shape of the
cutouts 322C as being lines having theset angle 3220 relative to thesecond rotation shaft 321A, this set angle 322θ may be any angle aside from 0 and 180 degrees, and the width of the line may be set freely from the standpoint of processability. Furthermore, the shape, number, and interval of thecutouts 322C described in this embodiment are examples, and can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the conveyance performance. Further still, the shapes, sizes, and intervals can be varied among the plurality ofcutouts 322C from the standpoint of varying the conveyance performance depending on the location in the left-right direction. -
FIGS. 23A to 23F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of the cutouts in the stirring sheet according toEmbodiment 4. In the examples illustrated inFIGS. 23A to 23F , the cutouts have a shape in which a circle is connected to an end part of a rectangle extending in a direction perpendicular to thesecond rotation shaft 321A (FIG. 23A ), a shape in which a plurality of lines are connected at the end part or partway along the lines (FIGS. 23B and 23C ), arc shapes (FIG. 23D ), and triangles (FIG. 23E ). These shapes can also be used in combination within a single second stirring sheet 322 (FIG. 23F ). -
FIGS. 24A to 24F are diagrams illustrating examples of possible shapes of holes in the stirring sheet according toEmbodiment 4. As illustrated inFIGS. 24A to 24F ,second holes 322H can also be provided in the surface of thesecond stirring sheet 322 instead of thecutouts 322C according to this embodiment. At this time, the shapes of thesecond holes 322H can be set freely from the standpoint of adjusting the conveyance performance. In the examples illustrated inFIGS. 24A to 24F , the holes have shapes such as rectangles (FIGS. 24A and 24E ), ellipses (FIG. 24B ), triangles (FIG. 24C ), circles (FIG. 24D ), and so on. The shapes of thesecond holes 322H may also be different in the left-right direction (FIG. 24F ), and the number and interval thereof may be set freely. - In this manner, the developing
unit 372 according toEmbodiment 4 and illustrated inFIG. 21 includes thefirst agitator 311, which conveys toner toward the developing roller, and thesecond agitator 321, which conveys toner toward thefirst agitator 311. Thefirst agitator 311 includes thefirst rotation shaft 311A, and the plurality of stirringblades 313 which are inclined relative to the axis line of thefirst rotation shaft 311A. Thesecond agitator 321 includes thesecond stirring sheet 322. Thesecond stirring sheet 322 has the plurality ofcutouts 322C (slits) which are formed at an angle relative to thesecond rotation shaft 321A. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the amount of toner conveyed by thefirst agitator 311 and thesecond agitator 321. - Additionally, the
first agitator 311 includes a plurality of thestirring blades 313. At least part of each of thecutouts 322C is positioned between twoadjacent stirring blades 313 with respect to the axis line of thefirst rotation shaft 311A, as seen from a direction orthogonal to thefirst rotation shaft 311A. Each of thecutouts 322C has afirst end 322A located on a free end side of thesecond stirring sheet 322, and asecond end 322B located on the side opposite from thefirst end 322A. Each of thecutouts 322C extends from thesecond end 322B to thefirst end 322A, from the center toward the outer side of thesecond stirring sheet 322 in a direction of thesecond rotation shaft 321A. Accordingly, the toner in thefirst stirring chamber 210 and thesecond stirring chamber 220 can be conveyed in a circulating manner. - A developing
unit 500 according toEmbodiment 4 and illustrated inFIG. 25 includes: the first agitator 211 (first conveyance member), which is capable of rotating and conveys the toner in thefirst stirring chamber 210 toward the developingroller 71; the second agitator 221 (second conveyance member), which is capable of rotating and conveys the toner in thesecond stirring chamber 220 toward thefirst agitator 211; and a third agitator 501 (a third conveyance member), which conveys toner in athird stirring chamber 503 toward thesecond agitator 221. A housing includes: the arc-shapedfirst wall surface 212, which projects outward with respect to thefirst stirring chamber 210; the arc-shapedsecond wall surface 222, which projects outward with respect to thesecond stirring chamber 220; and an arc-shapedthird wall surface 505, which projects outward with respect to thethird stirring chamber 503. - The
first agitator 211 is disposed above thefirst wall surface 212, thesecond agitator 221 is disposed above thesecond wall surface 222, and thethird agitator 501 is disposed above thethird wall surface 505. As illustrated inFIG. 25 , when the developingunit 500 is seen in a direction of the rotation axis of thefirst agitator 211, at least part of thethird wall surface 505 extends in a direction away from thephotosensitive drum 61, further than an end part on the side opposite from the end part where thephotosensitive drum 61 is disposed, in a direction connecting the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 with the center of rotation of thesecond agitator 221. - Note that the
third agitator 501 is capable of rotating, and a center of rotation of thethird agitator 501 may be located higher, in the gravitational direction, than a straight line L1 connecting the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 with the center of rotation of thesecond agitator 221. - In this embodiment, the
cutouts 322C in thesecond stirring sheet 322 are provided, in the left-right direction, between the plurality of intersection points 311P where the stirringblades 313 intersect with thefirst rotation shaft 311A. Furthermore, the amount of toner conveyed by thesecond agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by thefirst agitator 311. This makes it possible to prevent the supply of an amount of toner excessive for thestirring blades 313 provided in thefirst agitator 311, which in turn makes it possible to suppress degradation in the toner within the developing chamber. -
Embodiment 5 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIGS. 32, 33, and 34 . This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiments in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiments described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail.FIGS. 32 and 33 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which a developingunit 470 is mounted in a photosensitive member unit, according toEmbodiment 5.FIG. 34 is a top view illustrating a developer conveyance configuration when the developing unit is mounted in the photosensitive member unit. - The
first agitator 311 includes thefirst stirring rod 311S, thefirst rotation shaft 311A extending in the left-right direction, thefirst stirring sheet 312 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and the plurality of stirringblades 313, and supplies toner to thesupply roller 72 by rotating about thefirst rotation shaft 311A. Thefirst stirring rod 311S is provided with the stirringblades 313 to convey the toner in the first stirring chamber 210 (a first toner holding chamber) to a central part. Toner which has accumulated on thesupply roller 72 is again expelled into thefirst stirring chamber 210 by rubbing against the developingroller 71. Some of this expelled toner is conveyed to both end sides of thesupply roller 72 in the axial direction thereof. - The
first stirring rod 311S is provided with the stirringblades 313 to return this toner, which has been conveyed to both end sides, back to the central part of thefirst stirring chamber 210 in the left-right direction. Additionally, the stirringblades 313 at both end parts in the longitudinal direction reduce the toner pressure at both end parts, and thus by filling a gap between both end parts of the developingroller 71 in the longitudinal direction and thehousing 700, toner leakage from a toner seal portion (not shown), which prevents such toner leakage, can be reduced. - A plurality of the
stirring blades 313 are provided at intervals along the left-right direction of thefirst stirring rod 311S. In this embodiment, six of thestirring blades 313 are provided. The stirringblades 313 have semi-oval plate shapes, and a normal line at theintersection point 311P, where the stirringblades 313 intersect with thefirst rotation shaft 311A, intersects with thefirst rotation shaft 311A at the angle 313θ. Additionally, asecond agitator 321, which is capable of rotating, is provided in the second stirring chamber 220 (a second toner holding chamber). - The
second agitator 321 includes asecond stirring rod 321S, thesecond rotation shaft 321A extending in the left-right direction, and thesecond stirring sheet 322 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from thesecond stirring chamber 220 toward thefirst stirring chamber 210 by rotating about thesecond rotation shaft 321A. The amount of toner conveyed by thesecond agitator 321 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by thefirst agitator 311. - Additionally, a
third agitator 401, which is capable of rotating, is provided in a third stirring chamber 403 (a third toner holding chamber). Thethird agitator 401 includes athird stirring rod 401S, a third rotation shaft 401A extending in the left-right direction, and athird stirring sheet 402 constituted by a flexible sheet member, and conveys toner from thethird stirring chamber 403 toward thesecond stirring chamber 220 by rotating about the third rotation shaft 401A. The amount of toner conveyed by thethird agitator 401 is smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by thesecond agitator 321. This makes it possible to prevent an excessive amount of toner from backing up in the rearward direction in thesecond stirring chamber 220 and thefirst stirring chamber 210. - A center of rotation of the
third agitator 401 is located near a second line T302 in the up-down direction, as indicated inFIG. 32 , i.e., within a rotational radius of a leading end of thethird stirring sheet 402. Here, the second line T302 is a straight line which is perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 71 (the left-right direction) and which connects the centers of rotation of the developingroller 71 and thefirst agitator 311. The second line T302 passes through thesecond stirring chamber 220 and thethird stirring chamber 403. - The center of rotation of the
third agitator 401 is located near the second line T302 in the up-down direction. The second line T302 is inclined more toward a horizontal line (the front-rear direction) than a vertical line (the up-down direction), and thus an elevation difference between thefirst stirring chamber 210, thesecond stirring chamber 220, and thethird stirring chamber 403 in the up-down direction can be kept small. The up-down direction size (the height) of the developingunit 470 can therefore be made small, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the up-down direction sizes (the heights) of theprocess cartridge 5 and theimage forming apparatus 1. - Additionally, because the height from which the toner falls when the toner is conveyed from the
third stirring chamber 403 to thesecond stirring chamber 220 by thethird agitator 401 is kept low, an increase in powder pressure produced when the toner accumulates in the up-down direction can be prevented. This suppresses degradation caused by an increase in the powder pressure of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developingunit 270. - As described above, the
third agitator 401 is constituted by the third rotation shaft 401A and thethird stirring sheet 402, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 33 and 34 , athird agitator 450 may include athird stirring rod 451S, a plurality of stirringblades 452, and athird stirring sheet 455, and may be configured to convey toner from thethird stirring chamber 403 toward thesecond stirring chamber 220 by rotating about athird rotation shaft 451A. - The
third stirring rod 451S is provided with the stirringblades 452 to convey the toner in thethird stirring chamber 403 outward in the axial direction of thethird stirring rod 451S. A plurality of thestirring blades 452 are provided on thethird stirring rod 451S, at intervals along the left-right direction of thethird stirring rod 451S. In this embodiment, six of thestirring blades 452 are provided. The stirringblades 452 according to this embodiment have semi-oval plate shapes, and are configured so that a normal line at an intersection point 451P where the stirringblades 452 intersect with thethird rotation shaft 451A intersects with thethird rotation shaft 451A at an angle 453θ. - When the first to third agitators rotate, the toner within the
third stirring chamber 403 is conveyed outward in the axial direction of thethird stirring rod 451S, and is also conveyed from thethird stirring chamber 403 toward thesecond stirring chamber 220 by thethird stirring sheet 455. Furthermore, when thesecond agitator 321 rotates, the toner within thesecond stirring chamber 220 is conveyed from thesecond stirring chamber 220 toward thefirst stirring chamber 210. Thefirst stirring rod 311S of thefirst agitator 311 is provided with the stirringblades 313 for conveying the toner within thefirst stirring chamber 210 toward the central part thereof, and thus the first, second, and third agitators produce toner circulation, indicated byarrows FIG. 34 . This major toner circulation makes it possible to suppress degradation of the toner, which in turn makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developingunit 270. - The amount of toner conveyed by the
third agitator 450 is set to be the same or smaller than the amount of toner conveyed by thefirst agitator 311. This makes it possible to prevent an excessive amount of toner from backing up in the rearward direction in thesecond stirring chamber 220 and thefirst stirring chamber 210. Although this embodiment describes a configuration in which the third agitator is provided with a plurality of stirring blades, the configuration may be such that the second agitator is provided with a plurality of stirring blades and conveys toner outward in the axial direction of the stirring rod, and only the stirring sheet is fixed to the rotation shaft of the third agitator. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the above-described
lift member 642 and the like are not present in the periphery of thethird stirring chamber 403, which is in a position distant from the developing roller, as illustrated inFIG. 34 . This produces space in the axial direction of the stirring rod, making it possible to provide aside wall surface 490 of thethird stirring chamber 403 in the left-right direction (the axial direction of thethird stirring rod 451S) further on the outside, in the left-right direction, than aside wall surface 491 of thesecond stirring chamber 220 in the left-right direction (the axial direction of thesecond stirring rod 321S). This increases the volume of the toner receptacle, which makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developingunit 270. - In this manner, the developing
unit 470 according toEmbodiment 5 and illustrated inFIG. 32 includes: the developingroller 71; thehousing 700, in which are formed thefirst stirring chamber 210, thesecond stirring chamber 220, and thethird stirring chamber 403 that hold toner; thefirst agitator 311, which conveys the toner within thehousing 700 toward the developingroller 71; thesecond agitator 321, which conveys the toner within thehousing 700 toward thefirst agitator 311; and thethird agitator 401, which conveys the toner within thehousing 700 toward thesecond agitator 321. - The
housing 700 includes: the arc-shapedfirst wall surface 212, which projects outward with respect to thefirst stirring chamber 210; the arc-shapedsecond wall surface 222, which projects outward with respect to thesecond stirring chamber 220; and an arc-shapedthird wall surface 505, which projects outward with respect to thethird stirring chamber 403. Thefirst agitator 311 is disposed above thefirst wall surface 212, thesecond agitator 321 is disposed above thesecond wall surface 222, and thethird agitator 401 is disposed above thethird wall surface 505. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIG. 34 , thefirst agitator 211 includes thefirst rotation shaft 311A, and the plurality of stirringblades 313 which are fixed to thefirst rotation shaft 311A. The stirringblades 313 are disposed at an angle relative to the axis line of thefirst rotation shaft 311A so as to produce a force which conveys toner inward in the axis line direction of thefirst rotation shaft 311A when thefirst rotation shaft 311A rotates. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 33 and 34 , thethird agitator 450 includes thethird rotation shaft 451A, and the plurality of stirringblades 452 which are fixed to thethird rotation shaft 451A. The stirringblades 452 are disposed at an angle relative to the axis line of thethird rotation shaft 451A so as to produce a force which conveys toner outward in the axis line direction of thethird rotation shaft 451A when the third rotation shaft 401A rotates. Note that the stirringblades 313 and thestirring blades 452 may have a shape which has a spiral surface, a plate shape, or the like. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 33 and 34 , the developingunit 470 includes thefirst stirring chamber 210 that houses thefirst agitator 311, thesecond stirring chamber 220 that houses thesecond agitator 321, and thethird stirring chamber 403 that houses thethird agitator 450. Thethird stirring chamber 403, which serves as a third conveyance chamber, has a greater width in a direction of thesecond rotation shaft 321A of thesecond agitator 321 than in a direction of the rotation axis of thesecond agitator 321 of thesecond stirring chamber 220, which serves as the second conveyance chamber. - Providing the
third agitator 401 within thethird stirring chamber 403 makes it possible to increase the volume of the toner holding chamber. Additionally, because the center of rotation of thethird agitator 401 is located near the second line T302 in the up-down direction, i.e., within the rotational radius of the leading end of thethird stirring sheet 402, the up-down direction size (height) of the developingunit 270 can be reduced. Additionally, the toner pressure at both end parts is reduced by the stirringblades 313 of thefirst agitator 311, and thus toner leakage from toner seal portions at the end parts of the developingroller 71 can be prevented. Furthermore, because thethird stirring rod 451S includes thestirring blades 452 for conveying the toner outward in the axial direction, degradation of the toner can be suppressed, which makes it possible to further extend the service life of the developingunit 270. Further still, the side wall surfaces of thethird stirring chamber 403 can be located further outward in the left-right direction, which makes it possible to increase the volume of the toner receptacle. -
Embodiment 6 according to the present invention will be described next with reference toFIGS. 25, 26A, 26B, 27A, 27B, and 28 to 31 . This embodiment will describe parts different from the above-described embodiments in detail. Unless explicitly mentioned again, the configurations are the same as in the embodiments described above. Such parts will be given the same reference signs, and will not be described in detail. -
FIGS. 25 and 29 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which the developingunit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260, according toEmbodiment 6.FIGS. 26A, 27A, and 28 are cross-sectional views illustrating a state in which the developingunit 500, which has been mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260, is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2.FIGS. 26B and 27B are perspective views illustrating, from the direction of acartridge door 520, a state occurring after the developingunit 500, in which thephotosensitive member unit 260 has been mounted, has been mounted in the apparatusmain body 2.FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the developingunit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260.FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the developingunit 500. - As illustrated in
FIG. 25 , the developingunit 500 is provided with athird agitator 501, in addition to the configuration of the developingunit 270 described inEmbodiment 1. Thethird agitator 501 is disposed within thethird stirring chamber 503, which is provided further to the front than thesecond stirring chamber 220. Thethird stirring chamber 503 is a space which holds toner, formed by a thirdtop surface 504 of the stirring chamber, which is provided higher than thethird agitator 501 in the gravitational direction, and thethird wall surface 505, which is provided lower than thethird agitator 501 in the gravitational direction. Thethird wall surface 505 is a convex wall surface projecting downward in the gravitational direction with respect to thethird agitator 501. A thirddepressed portion 506 is formed at the boundary between thesecond wall surface 222 and thethird wall surface 505 in the front-rear direction, and thesecond wall surface 222 and thethird wall surface 505 are connected by the thirddepressed portion 506. - In this embodiment, the process cartridge is configured so that when the developing
unit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260, thethird stirring chamber 503 of the developingunit 500 projects further to the front than theframe 610 of thephotosensitive member unit 260. - Additionally, the center of rotation of the
third agitator 501 is located higher than the straight line L1 connecting the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 with the center of rotation of thesecond agitator 221. - As illustrated in
FIG. 26A , the developingunit 500 is mounted in and removed from the apparatus main body while mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. Afirst engagement portion 507 is provided below thethird wall surface 505 in the gravitational direction, as an unevenly-shaped part used for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting between the main body and a plurality of process cartridges having different specifications such as service life, speed, and the like. Asecond engagement portion 508 is provided in the apparatusmain body 2 as an unevenly-shaped part corresponding to thefirst engagement portion 507. - As illustrated in
FIG. 26B , when a compliant developing unit 500 (i.e., a unit with matching specifications) is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2, the developingunit 500 can be mounted in the apparatusmain body 2 without making contact with an unevenly-shaped part provided between thefirst engagement portion 507 and thesecond engagement portion 508. However, as illustrated inFIG. 27B , when a non-compliant developing unit 500 (i.e., a unit with different specifications) is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2, the unevenly-shaped part provided between thefirst engagement portion 507 and thesecond engagement portion 508 interferes with the mounting. In this case, the developingunit 500 cannot be inserted to a fully-mounted position in the apparatusmain body 2, as illustrated inFIG. 27A . - Next, as illustrated in
FIG. 28 , thephotosensitive member unit 260 is provided with thephotosensitive drum 61, theframe 610, and apressing member 509. The pressingmember 509 is provided further to the rear than thethird stirring chamber 503 of the developingunit 500. The pressingmember 509 presses the developingunit 500 in the direction of thearrow 201F, and thus presses the developingroller 71 provided in the developingunit 500 toward thephotosensitive drum 61, in a state where the developingunit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. Additionally, the above-described rotation stopping roller portion 202A may be provided in the thirddepressed portion 506. Alternatively, the above-described rotation stopping roller portion 202A may be provided in the firstdepressed portion 231 rather than in the thirddepressed portion 506. Furthermore, aroller receiving portion 514 having a surface parallel to the direction of thearrow 201F may be provided in a part of the developingunit 500 that makes contact with the rotation stopping roller portion 202A. - As illustrated in
FIG. 29 , thephotosensitive member unit 260 is provided with thephotosensitive drum 61, theframe 610, and thepressing member 509. The pressingmember 509 is provided further to the rear than thesecond stirring chamber 220 of the developingunit 500. The pressingmember 509 presses the developingunit 500 in the direction of thearrow 201F, and thus presses the developingroller 71 provided in the developingunit 500 toward thephotosensitive drum 61, in a state where the developingunit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. The pressingmember 509 may be provided in the firstdepressed portion 231. Furthermore, theroller receiving portion 514, with which the rotation stopping roller portion 202A makes contact, may be provided in the thirddepressed portion 506. Theroller receiving portion 514 may have a surface which is parallel to the direction of thearrow 201F. - As illustrated in
FIG. 30 , ahandle 510 is disposed above thesecond stirring chamber 220 in the gravitational direction. Thehandle 510 is fixed, in a rotatable state, to ahandle support portion 511 provided in the secondtop surface 242 of the stirring chambers. - A new component detection mechanism using the above-described
detection member 81 and detection projection 83 (seeFIGS. 8A and 8B ) may be provided on a plane including the cross-section of thethird stirring chamber 503 of the developingunit 500. - As illustrated in
FIG. 31 , the developingunit 500 is provided with a first fillingport 512 and asecond filling port 513. Thefirst filling port 512 is provided between thefirst agitator 211 and thesecond agitator 221, and the second fillingport 513 is provided between thesecond agitator 221 and thethird agitator 501. Additionally, a sealing member, which includes a shaft portion supporting, in a freely-rotatable state, an idler gear (not shown) for transmitting drive power to thefirst agitator gear 713 and thesecond agitator gear 714 illustrated inFIG. 4 and a third agitator gear (not shown), may be used as a means for sealing the first fillingport 512, the second fillingport 513, and so on. - In this manner, the apparatus
main body 2 of the image forming apparatus according toEmbodiment 6 and illustrated inFIGS. 27A and 27B is configured so that the process cartridge can be mounted therein and removed therefrom. Thethird wall surface 505 of the developingunit 500 may include thefirst engagement portion 507, which can engage with thesecond engagement portion 508 included in the apparatus main body 2 (a main body engagement portion). - Additionally, the
photosensitive member unit 260 according toEmbodiment 6 includes thepressing member 509. The developingunit 500 has the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) which is pressed by the pressingmember 509. The configuration is such that when viewed in a direction of the rotation axis of the developingroller 71, the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) is at least partially disposed within the thirddepressed portion 506, which is surrounded by a tangent line tangent to both thesecond wall surface 222 and thethird wall surface 505, and thesecond wall surface 222, and moreover thethird wall surface 505. Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 29 , the configuration may be such that the roller receiving portion 514 (pressing receiving portion) is at least partially disposed within the firstdepressed portion 231. - In this embodiment, the configuration is such that when the developing
unit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260, thethird stirring chamber 503 of the developingunit 500 projects further to the front than theframe 610 of thephotosensitive member unit 260. In this configuration, a configuration for supporting the developingunit 500 with respect to thephotosensitive member unit 260 is the same as in the developingunit 270. Accordingly, a plurality of developing units having different service lives (toner capacities) can be mounted without changing thephotosensitive member unit 260. This suppresses the number of types of photosensitive member units which are incorporated when manufacturing the process cartridge. The number of molding molds required for the different types of photosensitive member units can therefore be reduced. This also makes it sufficient for an assembly apparatus to handle a comparatively low number of types of photosensitive member units, which simplifies the assembly apparatus and by extension suppresses manufacturing costs. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the center of rotation of the
third agitator 501 is located higher than the straight line L1 connecting the center of rotation of thefirst agitator 211 with the center of rotation of thesecond agitator 221. Toner can therefore be conveyed from thethird agitator 501 to thesecond agitator 221 using the force of gravity. Accordingly, the thirddepressed portion 506 may be eliminated, thethird wall surface 505 and thesecond wall surface 222 may be connected by a sloped surface that slopes downward, in the gravitational direction, from thethird wall surface 505 toward thesecond wall surface 222, and the toner may be conveyed by sliding along the sloped surface. Additionally, eliminating the thirddepressed portion 506 makes it possible to increase the filling amount of the toner. - Additionally, as illustrated in
FIG. 28 , by including thefirst engagement portion 507 provided in the developingunit 500 and thesecond engagement portion 508 provided in the apparatusmain body 2, the apparatusmain body 2 and the developingunit 500 can be made compatible or incompatible with each other in that combination. As an example in which compatibility is necessary, multiple combinations of the apparatusmain body 2 and the developingunit 500 will be created in situations such as where the number of product types is increased by changing the toner. In this case, if an incompatible developingunit 500 is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2, there is a risk of the apparatusmain body 2 malfunctioning. - To prevent such a situation, the
first engagement portion 507 and thesecond engagement portion 508 are made to interfere with each other when the developing unit is mounted in the apparatusmain body 2, which prevents the developingunit 500 from being mounted in the apparatusmain body 2. Additionally, in this embodiment, thefirst engagement portion 507 is provided in the developingunit 500 instead of thephotosensitive member unit 260, and thus when providing a plurality of developing units having different specifications as products, thephotosensitive member unit 260 can be used in common with those units. Although the compatibility is achieved using the unevenness in the relationship between thefirst engagement portion 507 and thesecond engagement portion 508 in this embodiment, the means for implementing compatibility is not limited thereto, and a variety of means can be used, including positional relationships, size relationships, and so on. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the pressing
member 509 can be disposed, without wasting space, in the space formed by theframe 610 of thephotosensitive member unit 260 and the firstdepressed portion 231 or the thirddepressed portion 506 of the developingunit 500, which makes it possible to press the developingroller 71 toward thephotosensitive drum 61 without affecting the size of the apparatusmain body 2. In the same technical spirit, the attitude of the developingunit 500 can be stabilized by disposing the rotation stopping roller portion 202A in a space formed by theframe 610 and a second depressed portion 232 or the firstdepressed portion 231 of the stirring chambers. Additionally, in this embodiment, the developingroller 71 can press against thephotosensitive drum 61 in a stable manner. Note that the numbers of thepressing member 509 and the rotation stopping roller portion 202A are not limited to one. - Additionally, by disposing the
handle 510 above, in the gravitational direction, thesecond stirring chamber 220, which is close to a center ofgravity 500G of the developingunit 500, the load arising when the user grips the developingunit 500 can be reduced. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the pressing
member 509 is provided in the thirddepressed portion 506, and thus the thirddepressed portion 506 and thepressing member 509 can be used as uneven shapes for engagement, for the purpose of preventing erroneous mounting of multiple process cartridges having different specifications, such as service life and speed. Specifically, if the thirddepressed portion 506 of the developingunit 500 is provided in a different location from the pressingmember 509, one of thesecond wall surface 222 and thethird wall surface 505 will contact thepressing member 509 when the developingunit 500 is mounted in thephotosensitive member unit 260. This ensures that the unit cannot be inserted to the fully-mounted position illustrated inFIGS. 18A and 18B . By configuring the process cartridge in the manner described in this embodiment, the user can be made aware when the process cartridge is erroneously mounted in the apparatus main body. - Note that the configurations described in the foregoing embodiments can be combined as appropriate within a scope that does not produce any conflicts.
- The present invention can be summarized as follows.
- (1) A process cartridge (5) according to a first aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit (6, 260); and
- a developing unit (7, 270) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit (6, 260),
- wherein the photosensitive member unit (6, 260) includes:
- a photosensitive drum (61) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
- a frame (610) that supports the photosensitive drum (61); and
- a pressing member (200) that presses the developing unit (7, 270) toward the photosensitive member unit (6, 260),
- the developing unit (7, 270) includes:
- a developing roller (71) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum (61) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum (61);
- a housing (250) in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed; and
- a pressing receiving portion (231A) that receives pressing force from the pressing member (200),
- the housing (250) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space; and
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use, and
- when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller (71), at least part of the pressing receiving portion (231A) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- (2) The process cartridge (5) according to a first aspect of the present invention,
- wherein the developing unit (7, 270) preferably further includes:
- a first conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first bottom portion; and
- a second conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second bottom portion, and
- preferably when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller (71), the pressing receiving portion (231A) is located between a rotation center of the first conveyance member and a rotation center of the second conveyance member in a horizontal direction.
- (3) The process cartridge (5) according to the first aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller (71), a first straight line extending along a pressing direction, in which the pressing member (200) presses the pressing receiving portion (231A), passes through the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.
- (4) The process cartridge (5) according to the first aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller (71), a second straight line passing through a rotation center of the developing roller (71) and the rotation center of the first conveyance member passes through a conveyance chamber that houses the second conveyance member.
- (5) The process cartridge (5) according to the first aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the photosensitive member unit (6, 260) includes a lift member (642) that presses and moves the developing unit (7, 270), and
- preferably the pressing member (200) is disposed at a position on further toward a center side of the frame (610) than the lift member (642) in a rotation axial direction of the photosensitive drum (61).
- (6) A process cartridge (5) according to a second aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit (6, 261); and
- a developing unit (7, 271) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit (6, 261),
- wherein the photosensitive member unit (6, 261) includes:
- a photosensitive drum (61) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
- a frame (610) that supports the photosensitive drum (61); and
- a pressing member (201) that presses the developing unit (7, 271) toward the photosensitive member unit (6, 261),
- the developing unit (7, 271) includes:
- a developing roller (71) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum (61) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum (61);
- a housing (251) in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed; and
- a pressing receiving portion (231A) that receives pressing force from the pressing member (201),
- the housing (251) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space;
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space;
- a first top surface (241);
- a second top surface (242) provided upward of the first top surface (241) in a gravitational direction, in a state in use; and
- a connecting portion that connects the first top surface (241) and the second top surface (242), and
- the connecting portion has an opposing surface opposite the first top surface (241).
- (7) The process cartridge (5) according to the second aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the photosensitive member unit (6, 261) includes a rotation stopping roller portion (202A) that supports the developing unit (7, 271) when the developing unit (7, 271) is attached to the photosensitive member unit (6, 261), and
- preferably when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller (71), at least part of the rotation stopping roller portion (202A) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
- (8) The process cartridge (5) according to the second aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the developing unit (7, 271) further includes:
- a first conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first bottom portion;
- a second conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second bottom portion;
- a first conveyance chamber that houses the first conveyance member; and
- a second conveyance chamber that houses the second conveyance member, and
- preferably a width of the second conveyance chamber, in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller (71), is greater than a width of the first conveyance chamber.
- (9) A process cartridge (5) according to a third aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit (6, 362); and
- a developing unit (7, 372) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit (6, 362),
- wherein the photosensitive member unit (6, 362) includes:
- a photosensitive drum (61) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and
- a frame (610) that supports the photosensitive drum (61),
- wherein, the developing unit (7, 372) includes:
- a developing roller (71) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum (61) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum (61);
- a housing (700) in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed;
- a first conveyance member that conveys the toner toward the developing roller (71); and
- a second conveyance member that conveys the toner toward the first conveyance member,
- wherein, the housing (700) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space; and
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use,
- wherein, the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion in a state in use,
- wherein, the first conveyance member includes:
- a rotation shaft; and
- a stirring blade (313) that is inclined relative to an axis line of the rotation shaft,
- wherein, the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion in state in use, and
- wherein, the second conveyance member includes:
- a rotation shaft; and
- a stirring sheet that is provided with a slit.
- (10) The process cartridge (5) according to the third aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the first conveyance member has a plurality of the stirring blades (313), and
- preferably when viewed in a direction orthogonal to an axis line direction of the rotation shaft, at least part of the slit is located between two adjacent ones of the stirring blades (313) in the axis line direction.
- (11) The process cartridge (5) according to the third aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the slit includes:
- a first end located on a free end side of the stirring sheet; and
- a second end located on an opposite side to the first end, and
- preferably the slit is arranged to be inclined relative to the axis line of the rotation shaft so as to be extended from the second end toward the first end from the center of the rotation shaft toward an outer side in the axis line direction.
- (12) A process cartridge (5) according to a fourth aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit (6); and
- a developing unit (7, 470) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit (6),
- wherein the photosensitive member unit (6) includes:
- a photosensitive drum (61) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and
- a frame (610) that supports the photosensitive drum (61),
- wherein, the developing unit (7, 470) includes:
- a developing roller (71) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum (61) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum (61);
- a housing (700) in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed;
- a first conveyance member that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the developing roller (71);
- a second conveyance member that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the first conveyance member; and
- a third conveyance member that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the second conveyance member,
- wherein, the housing (700) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space;
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space; and
- a third bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use,
- wherein, the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion,
- the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion, and
- the third conveyance member is disposed above the third bottom portion, in a state in use.
- (13) The process cartridge (5) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the first conveyance member includes:
- a first rotation shaft; and
- a first stirring blade that is fixed to the first rotation shaft, and
- preferably the first stirring blade is disposed so as to be inclined at an angle relative to an axis line of the first rotation shaft to produce a force, by which the toner is conveyed inward from two end sides in an axis line direction of the first rotation shaft, when the first rotation shaft rotates.
- (14) The process cartridge (5) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably at least one of the second conveyance member and the third conveyance member includes:
- a second rotation shaft; and
- a second stirring blade that is fixed to the second rotation shaft, and
- preferably the second stirring blade is disposed so as to be inclined at an angle relative to an axis line of the second rotation shaft to produce a force, by which the toner is conveyed outward from a center in an axis line direction of the second rotation shaft, when the second rotation shaft rotates.
- (15) The process cartridge (5) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein preferably the first stirring blade has a plate shape.
(16) The process cartridge (5) according to the fourth aspect of the present invention preferably further including: - a first conveyance chamber that houses the first conveyance member;
- a second conveyance chamber that houses the second conveyance member; and
- a third conveyance chamber that houses the third conveyance member, and
- preferably a width of the third conveyance chamber, in a direction of a rotation axis of the second conveyance member, is greater than a width of the second conveyance chamber.
- (17) A process cartridge (5) according to a fifth aspect of the present invention including:
- a photosensitive member unit (6, 260, 362); and
- a developing unit (7, 270, 372, 500) that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit (6, 260, 362),
- wherein the photosensitive member unit (6, 260, 362) includes:
- a photosensitive drum (61) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and
- a frame (610) that supports the photosensitive drum (61),
- wherein, the developing unit (7, 270, 372, 500) includes:
- a developing roller (71) that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum (61) and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum (61);
- a housing (700) in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed;
- a first conveyance member that is capable of rotating and that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the developing roller (71);
- a second conveyance member that is capable of rotating and that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the first conveyance member; and
- a third conveyance member that conveys the toner within the holding space toward the second conveyance member,
- wherein, the housing (700) includes:
- a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space;
- a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space; and
- a third bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use,
- wherein, the first conveyance member is disposed above the first bottom portion,
- the second conveyance member is disposed above the second bottom portion, and
- the third conveyance member is disposed above the third bottom portion, in a state in use, and
- when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the first conveyance member, at least part of the third bottom portion extends from an end part of the photosensitive member unit (6, 260, 362) at one side opposite to the other side where the photosensitive drum (61) is located, so as to be further away from the photosensitive drum (61), in a direction in which a straight line passing through a rotation center of the first conveyance member and a rotation center of the second conveyance member extends.
- (18) The process cartridge (5) according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the third conveyance member is capable of rotating, and
- preferably when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the first conveyance member, a rotation center of the third conveyance member is located above a straight line connecting the rotation center of the first conveyance member with the rotation center of the second conveyance member, in a state in use.
- (19) The process cartridge (5) according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the process cartridge (5) is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and
- preferably the third bottom portion includes an engagement portion that can engage with a main body engagement portion included in the apparatus main body.
- (20) The process cartridge (5) according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the photosensitive member unit (6, 260) includes a pressing member (509),
- preferably the developing unit (7, 500) includes a pressing receiving portion (514) that is pressed by the pressing member (509), and
- preferably when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller (71), at least part of the pressing receiving portion (514) is located in a space surrounded by the second bottom portion, the third bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the second bottom portion and an outer wall of the third bottom portion.
- (21) The process cartridge (5) according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
- wherein preferably the photosensitive member unit (6, 260) includes a pressing member (509),
- preferably the developing unit (7, 500) includes a pressing receiving portion (514) that is pressed by the pressing member (509), and
- preferably when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis line of the developing roller (71), at least part of the pressing receiving portion (514) is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.
- While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-235594, filed on Dec. 26, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Claims (5)
1. A process cartridge, comprising:
a photosensitive member unit; and
a developing unit that is attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member unit,
wherein the photosensitive member unit includes:
a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
a frame that supports the photosensitive drum; and
a pressing member that presses the developing unit toward the photosensitive member unit,
the developing unit includes:
a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and collects the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive drum;
a housing in which a holding space that holds the toner is formed; and
a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from the pressing member,
the housing includes:
a first bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward an outer side of the holding space and
a second bottom portion that has an arc shape and that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use, and
when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
2. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the developing unit further includes:
a first conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the first bottom portion; and
a second conveyance member for conveying the toner, that rotates in a state of contacting with an inner wall of the second bottom portion, and
when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller, the pressing receiving portion is located between a rotation center of the first conveyance member and a rotation center of the second conveyance member in a horizontal direction.
3. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller, a first straight line extending along a pressing direction, in which the pressing member presses the pressing receiving portion, passes through the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion.
4. The process cartridge according to claim 2 ,
wherein when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller, a second straight line passing through a rotation center of the developing roller and the rotation center of the first conveyance member passes through a conveyance chamber that houses the second conveyance member.
5. The process cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein the photosensitive member unit includes a lift member that presses and moves the developing unit, and
the pressing member is disposed at a position on further toward a center side of the frame than the lift member, in a rotation axial direction of the photosensitive drum.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/317,141 US11454924B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2021-05-11 | Process cartridge |
US17/883,727 US11740585B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2022-08-09 | Process cartridge |
US18/350,844 US20230350340A1 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2023-07-12 | Process cartridge |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2019-235594 | 2019-12-26 | ||
JPJP2019-235594 | 2019-12-26 | ||
JP2019235594A JP7379148B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2019-12-26 | process cartridge |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/317,141 Continuation US11454924B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2021-05-11 | Process cartridge |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US11029640B1 US11029640B1 (en) | 2021-06-08 |
US20210200146A1 true US20210200146A1 (en) | 2021-07-01 |
Family
ID=76213279
Family Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/123,308 Active US11029640B1 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2020-12-16 | Process cartridge |
US17/317,141 Active US11454924B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2021-05-11 | Process cartridge |
US17/883,727 Active US11740585B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2022-08-09 | Process cartridge |
US18/350,844 Pending US20230350340A1 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2023-07-12 | Process cartridge |
Family Applications After (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/317,141 Active US11454924B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2021-05-11 | Process cartridge |
US17/883,727 Active US11740585B2 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2022-08-09 | Process cartridge |
US18/350,844 Pending US20230350340A1 (en) | 2019-12-26 | 2023-07-12 | Process cartridge |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US11029640B1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP7379148B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9996052B2 (en) * | 2016-02-10 | 2018-06-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Cartridge capable of being inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus |
Family Cites Families (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH11119528A (en) * | 1997-10-17 | 1999-04-30 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Developing device and process cartridge |
JP4537509B2 (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2010-09-01 | 株式会社リコー | Image forming apparatus |
JP3840063B2 (en) | 2001-04-27 | 2006-11-01 | キヤノン株式会社 | Process cartridge |
KR100437122B1 (en) * | 2002-02-27 | 2004-06-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Toner cartridge assembly and Printing apparatus |
JP4025663B2 (en) | 2003-03-04 | 2007-12-26 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Image carrier attaching / detaching mechanism and color image forming apparatus having the same |
JP2005189777A (en) * | 2003-12-26 | 2005-07-14 | Brother Ind Ltd | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus |
KR100605165B1 (en) * | 2004-08-13 | 2006-07-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Image forming apparatus |
KR100708174B1 (en) * | 2005-08-23 | 2007-04-17 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Developing cartridge and electrophotographic imazge forming apparatus using the same |
JP2007298908A (en) * | 2006-05-08 | 2007-11-15 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Process cartridge, image forming apparatus and method for assembling process cartridge |
JP4498407B2 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2010-07-07 | キヤノン株式会社 | Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit |
JP5115015B2 (en) * | 2007-04-20 | 2013-01-09 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Toner cartridge |
JP4595959B2 (en) * | 2007-05-07 | 2010-12-08 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Developer supply container and image forming apparatus |
US8611782B2 (en) * | 2009-09-18 | 2013-12-17 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming device and development unit attachable thereto |
JP6421631B2 (en) | 2015-02-06 | 2018-11-14 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Process cartridge and drum cartridge |
JP6590534B2 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2019-10-16 | キヤノン株式会社 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus |
US9996052B2 (en) * | 2016-02-10 | 2018-06-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Cartridge capable of being inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus |
JP6668893B2 (en) | 2016-03-31 | 2020-03-18 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus |
TWM538176U (en) | 2016-11-02 | 2017-03-11 | Avision Inc | Separated type imaging device |
JP2018180380A (en) | 2017-04-17 | 2018-11-15 | キヤノン株式会社 | Process cartridge, photoreceptor unit and developing unit |
-
2019
- 2019-12-26 JP JP2019235594A patent/JP7379148B2/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-12-16 US US17/123,308 patent/US11029640B1/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-05-11 US US17/317,141 patent/US11454924B2/en active Active
-
2022
- 2022-08-09 US US17/883,727 patent/US11740585B2/en active Active
-
2023
- 2023-07-12 US US18/350,844 patent/US20230350340A1/en active Pending
- 2023-10-31 JP JP2023186977A patent/JP2024001295A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20230350340A1 (en) | 2023-11-02 |
US20220382186A1 (en) | 2022-12-01 |
JP2021105630A (en) | 2021-07-26 |
US20210263466A1 (en) | 2021-08-26 |
JP2024001295A (en) | 2024-01-09 |
US11740585B2 (en) | 2023-08-29 |
JP7379148B2 (en) | 2023-11-14 |
US11454924B2 (en) | 2022-09-27 |
US11029640B1 (en) | 2021-06-08 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP6682582B2 (en) | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
US8688010B2 (en) | Developing cartridge | |
US8320800B2 (en) | Image forming device, developing device and toner cartridge | |
JP4918127B2 (en) | Developer container, developing device, and image forming apparatus | |
JP2023021344A (en) | Process cartridge, photoreceptor unit, and development unit | |
EP2511773B1 (en) | Developer cartridge and image forming apparatus to which developer cartridge is applied | |
JP2007199651A (en) | Developing unit and image forming apparatus | |
EP3742233B1 (en) | Developing cartridge, developing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same | |
US11567447B2 (en) | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
CN101382757A (en) | Toner container having toner agitating function | |
US20230350340A1 (en) | Process cartridge | |
EP1686431A2 (en) | Developer cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
JP7500294B2 (en) | Image forming device | |
US20060115308A1 (en) | Sheet storage cassette and image forming apparatus | |
US11500305B2 (en) | Process cartridge having toner receiving portion | |
JP6884832B2 (en) | Photoreceptor cartridge and process cartridge | |
US12099325B2 (en) | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
EP4325298A1 (en) | Cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
JP2021107914A (en) | Cartridge unit | |
JP2024002824A (en) | Cartridge and image forming apparatus | |
JP2006276536A (en) | Powder conveying member and powder processing device using the same |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KOMATSU, NORIYUKI;MORI, TOMONORI;SASAKI, TERUHIKO;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20210310 TO 20210425;REEL/FRAME:056076/0127 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |