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
  • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
  • G03G21/1825—Pivotable subunit connection
• • 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
  • 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
  • G03G21/185—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks the process cartridge being mounted parallel to the axis of the photosensitive member
• • 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
  • G03G21/1875—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 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. lifetime of the cartridge
  • G03G21/1878—Electronically readable memory
  • G03G21/1882—Electronically readable memory details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
  • G03G21/1885—Electronically readable memory details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols position of the memory; memory housings; electrodes
• • 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
  • G03G15/0863—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• • 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
  • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
  • G03G21/1821—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a process cartridge which is dismountably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus.
• an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic image forming method is known.
• image forming apparatuses include, for example,
• electrophotographic copying machines such as LED printers or laser beam printers
• facsimile machines such as USB flash drives
• word processors such as USB flash drives
• the portion of the apparatus maintenance operation can be performed, in effect, by the user without relying on a service person in charge of after-sales service.
• the process cartridge system can significantly improve the operability of the apparatus and can provide an image forming apparatus with excellent
• a developing unit including a developing roller is rotatably coupled to a drum unit
• developing roller can be brought into contact with and separated from each other.
• the memory can
• 099403 discloses a cartridge in which a developing unit includes a memory.
• the developing roller is kept
• the part of the process cartridge where the process cartridge is positioned relative to the image forming apparatus may be deformed by a constant pressure imparted to the memory. If this positioned portion is deformed, the position of the developing roller relative to the photosensitive drum changes, and therefore, the gap between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum changes.
• a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum unit including a photosensitive drum, and a first and second positioning portions configured to position said photosensitive drum unit relative to the main assembly; and a developing unit connected with said photosensitive drum unit, said developing unit including a developing roller, a storing means having a contact surface electrically connectable with a main assembly contact of the main assembly to communicate with the main assembly, wherein as seen in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum, a first line segment connecting the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion with each other and a first linear line passing through the contact surface and perpendicular to the contact surface crosses with each other.
• Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of the cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge usable with the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view as viewed from the drive side of the cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view as seen from the non-driving side of the cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 6 is a schematic view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment with the open/close door opened.
• Figure 7 is a schematic illustration showing a state in which the open/close door of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is closed.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the drive unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of a memory tag and the periphery thereof in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 10 is a side view illustrating the relationship between the cartridge coupling portion and the memory tag of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• Figure 11 is a side view, showing an internal force in the cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
• WO 2020/138507 PCT/ rJuP2 /0 o1n9/0e5 u16 I4 o9 / 051649
• electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a structure in which a
• cartridge B is mountable to and dismountable from the apparatus main assembly
• the apparatus main assembly A is a portion excluding the cartridge B
• transfer guide 6 a transfer roller 7, a conveyance guide 8, a fixing device 9, a
• the fixing device 9 comprises a heating roller 9a and a pressure
• the cartridge B has an exposure device 3 which is a laser scanner unit
• a photosensitive drum 62 which is a photosensitive
• the cartridge B includes a developing unit 20 and a cleaning unit 60, and is a process cartridge which is dismountably mountable to the apparatus main assembly A.
• the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are constituted so as to be pivotably coupled.
• the side on which the photosensitive drum 62 receives the driving force from the apparatus main assembly A is a driving side, and the opposite side is a non-driving side.
• the developing unit 20 includes a developer container 23, a toner chamber 29, a developing roller 32, a blowout prevention sheet 33, and a developing blade 42.
• the developer container 23 supports the developing roller 32.
• the toner chamber 29 is constituted by a developer container 23 and a bottom member 22. In the toner chamber 29, a stirring member 43 is provided.
• the developing roller 32 is rotatably mounted in the developer container 23 by a bearing member 26 ( Figure 4) and a bearing member 27 ( Figure 5) provided at the opposite ends.
• a magnet roller 34 is provided in the developing roller 32.
• a spacing members 38 are mounted at the opposite ends of the developing roller 32, respectively.
• the developing roller 32 is mounted to the developer container 23 with a small gap between the developing roller 32 and the photosensitive drum 62 when the spacing member 38 and the photosensitive drum 62 are in contact to each other.
• the developing roller 32 is a developer carrying member which carries the toner T on the surface thereof in order to develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 62.
• the blowout prevention sheet 33 is provided at the edge of the bottom member 22 so as to contact the developing roller 32 to prevent the toner from leaking from the developing unit 20 to the outside.
• the developing blade 42 regulates the toner layer formed on the developing roller 32.
• the stirring member 43 stirs the toner stored in the toner chamber 29 and conveys the toner to the toner supply chamber 28.
• the cleaning unit 60 is a photosensitive drum unit including the photosensitive drum 62. More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the cleaning unit 60 includes the photosensitive drum 62, a receptor sheet 65, a charging roller 66, a cleaning frame 71, a waste toner chamber 71b, and a cleaning member 77.
• the photosensitive drum 62 is rotatably held by the cleaning unit 60 by the drive side drum flange 63 provided on the drive side being rotatably supported in a hole 73a of the drum bearing 73.
• the photosensitive drum 62 is an image bearing member which carries the latent image or the toner image formed of toner on the surface thereof.
• the receptor sheet 65 is provided at the edge of the cleaning frame 71 so as to contact with the photosensitive drum 62 to prevent the waste toner from leaking out of the cleaning frame 71 to the outside.
• the charging roller 66 is disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62.
• the charging roller 66 is rotatably mounted in the cleaning unit 60 by the charging roller bearings 67 at opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71.
• the charging roller 66 is in pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 62 and is rotated by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 62 by the charging roller bearing 67 being pressed toward the photosensitive drum 62 by the biasing member 68.
• the cleaning frame 71 supports the charging roller 66 and the cleaning member 77.
• the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71 is the same as WO 2020/138507 PC K1 / ?r3 ⁇ 4 ⁇ 051G49
• drum bearing 73 and the cleaning frame 71 can also be
• cleaning frame collectively referred to as a cleaning frame.
• the waste toner chamber 71b is constituted by the cleaning frame 71
• the cleaning member 77 is disposed in contact with the outer
• a rubber blade 77a which is a blade-like elastic member made of rubber
• the cleaning member 77 are process means which act on the photosensitive
• the cartridge B is provided with a
• memory tag 24 provided as a storage means including a contact surface 24a for
• the memory tag 24 is mounted to the non-driving side bearing member 27 so that the contact surface 24a is substantially parallel to the photosensitive drum 62.
• the cartridge B is provided with a guide 27c and an upper guide 27d adjacent to the memory tag 24.
• the guide 27c is formed as a portion of the bearing member 27.
• the apparatus main assembly A includes a communication connector 99 which includes a main assembly contact 12 which is electrically connected to and communicates with the contact surface 24a of the memory tag 24, a guided portion 14H and a guided portion 14L adjacent to the main assembly contact 12.
• the main assembly contact 12, the guided portion 14H, and the guided portion 14L can be moved integrally with each other relative to the apparatus main assembly A by a predetermined amount.
• the developing unit 20 is moved in the direction of the arrow G, by which the first support boss 26a is fitted into the first suspension hole 71 i, and the second development support boss 27a is fitted into the second suspension hole 71j.
• the developing unit 20 is connected to the cleaning unit 60 so as to be rotatable relative to it, and the developing roller 32 is connected to the photosensitive drum 62 in the state that the developing roller 32 is movable WO 2020/138507 ' r ' Tt' r 'i'ii 51849
• the cartridge B is assembled by mounting the drum bearing 73 to
• the cleaning unit 60 The cleaning unit 60.
• the cleaning unit 60 is rotatably
• non-driving side urging member 46R which are compression springs, urges
• the developing roller 32 is reliably urged toward the photosensitive drum
• the photosensitive drum 62 and the developing roller 32 are identical to the photosensitive drum 62 and the developing roller 32.
• the photosensitive drum 62 and the developing roller 32 are the photosensitive drum 62 and the developing roller 32.
• space holding member (spacer) 38 mounted to the respective ends of the space
• developing roller 32 is stably maintained by the spacing member 38.
• the photosensitive drum 62 is rotationally driven in the direction of
• the charging roller 66 to which the bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 and charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 uniformly.
• the exposure device 3 outputs a laser beam L
• the laser beam L passes through the laser opening 71h of the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. By this, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62.
• the toner T in the toner chamber 29 of the developing unit 20 is stirred and fed by the rotation of the stirring member 43, to the toner supply chamber 28, and is applied and carried on the surface of the developing roller 32 by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet)
• the toner T carried on the surface of the developing roller 32 is triboelectrically charged by the developing blade 42, and the layer thickness of the toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32 is regulated.
• the toner T carried on the surface of the developing roller 32 is supplied to the photosensitive drum 62 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image. By this, the latent image is developed and visualized into a toner image.
• the pick-up roller 5a and the feed roller pair 5b delivers out the sheet material PA stored in the sheet tray 4 below the apparatus main assembly A from the sheet tray 4 in accordance with the output timing of the laser beam L.
• the sheet material PA delivered from the sheet tray 4 is fed to a transfer position between the photosensitive drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 by way of the transfer guide 6, and the toner images are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum 62.
• the toner removed from the photosensitive drum 62 is stored in the waste toner chamber
• the first drive side plate 15 of the apparatus main assembly A has
• the nondriving side plate 16 of the apparatus main assembly A has a guide rail 16d and a guide rail 16e as second guide rails.
• the drum bearing 73 provided on the drive side of the cartridge B has a rotation stop portion 73c.
• the cleaning frame 71 has a positioned portion 71 d as a first
• the first drive side plate 15 has an upper positioning PLT / ⁇ h L L 4 L
• the non-driving side plate 16 has a positioning portion 16a and a
• drum bearing 73 has a positioned
• portion 73d and a positioned portion 73f.
• the mounting direction of the cartridge B is a direction substantially
• the cartridge B is positioned in the image forming
• the positioned at the driving side on the non-drive side. In addition, on the non-drive side, the positioned
• the cartridge B may be positioned by directly acting on the driven- side positioning portion 73d and the rotation-stopped portion 73f and the nondriving-side positioned portion 71 d and the rotation-stopped portion 7 If.
• the apparatus main assembly A is provided with a drive
• a driving force receiving portion 63b is provided on the cartridge B.
• a gear shape 81 g is
• a developing roller gear 90 is connected to the end of the ⁇
• the photosensitive drum 62 is rotated by way of the
• the memory tag 24 comes into contact with the main assembly contact 12 and
• the main assembly contact 12 has elasticity, and therefore, the contact surface 24a of the memory tag 24 contacts with a predetermined pressure therebetween.
• the cartridge B receives external force from the communication connector 99 of the apparatus main assembly A in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface 24a in the memory tag 24.
• This external force is defined as contact pressure F5 (part (d) of Figure 9)
• first line segment XI a linear line passing through the contact surface 24a of the memory tag 24 and perpendicular to the contact surface 24a is a first linear line X2.
• the memory tag 24 is arranged such that the first line segment XI and the first linear line X2 intersect with each other, by which the contact pressure F5 acting on the contact surface 24a is arranged so that the direction intersects the first line segment X 1.
• the distance between the positioned portion 71 d and the rotation stop portion 71 f is w
• the intersection of the first line segment XI and the first linear line X2 is a point PI
• equation (1) is derived.
• wl is w ⁇ wl .
• the contact pressure F5 which is an external force, is smaller than the sum of the reaction force F6 acting on the positioned portion 71 d and the reaction force F7 acting on the rotation-stopped portion 7 If.
• the memory tag 24 is arranged such that the first
• the position of the cartridge B can be determined so as not to generate a reaction force larger than the contact pressure F5 that is an external force in the cartridge
• positional deviation of the developing unit 20 including the developing roller 32 can be reduced relative to the cleaning unit 60 including the photosensitive drum
• the photosensitive drum 62 can be reduced. Therefore, the position of the photosensitive drum 62
• developing roller 32 can be accurately maintained relative to the photosensitive
• photosensitive drum 62 can be stabilized.
• the cleaning unit 60 will be described.
• the developing unit 20 is connected to the cleaning unit 60 so as to be rotatable (rotatable) in the direction of the arrow T10.
• the cleaning unit 60 is connected to the cleaning unit 60 so as to be rotatable (rotatable) in the direction of the arrow T10.
• developing roller 32 is connected to the photosensitive drum 62 in a state in
• member 27 is a second line segment X3.
• roller 32 close to the photosensitive drum 62 can be reduced, and therefore, the
• the force F5c acting on the coupling portion C acts in the direction of the second linear line X4 which passes through the coupling portion C and is perpendicular to the contact surface 24a of the memory tag 24 and is parallel to the first linear line X2.
• the memory tag 24 is arranged such that the second linear line X4 parallel to the direction of the force F5c and the first line segment XI intersect with each other.
• the force F5c is a central load with respect to the cleaning unit 60 supported at both ends by the positioned portion 71d and the rotation stop portion 7 If, and therefore, the deformation of the coupling portion C due to the force F5c can be suppressed, and the positional deviation of the coupling portion C can be reduced.
• the positional deviation of the developing unit 20 including the developing roller 32 can be reduced relative to the cleaning unit 60 including the photosensitive drum 62. That is, the positional deviation of the developing roller 32 relative to the photosensitive drum 62 can be reduced, and the position of the developing roller 32 can be accurately maintained relative to the photosensitive drum 62, and therefore, the contact pressure in the direction of the developing roller 32 approaching the photosensitive drum 62 can be stabilized.
• the developing roller gear 90 is disposed so as to mesh with a gear shape 81 g provided on the drive transmission member 81 , when the drive passive portion 63b of the drive side drum flange 63 is engaged with the drive transmission member 81 (part (d) of Figure 9)
• the drive transmission member 81 is arranged coaxially with the photosensitive drum 62, and the developing roller gear 90 is arranged coaxially with the developing roller 32.
• photosensitive drum 62 and the center of the developing roller 32 is a third linear
• the memory tag 24 is arranged such that two sides of the first linear
• roller 32 tends to move in a direction in contact with the photosensitive drum 62, and therefore, even when the contact pressure F5 acts on the developing unit 20,
• the developing roller 32 is not easily separated from the photosensitive drum 62.
• developing roller gear 90 can be stably meshed with each other.
• the first linear line X2 intersect each other as viewed in the axial direction of the
• photosensitive drum 62 The photosensitive drum 62.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
• Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=69467619

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (24)

• 2018
  • 2018-12-28 JP JP2018247839A patent/JP7218178B2/ja active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-12-26 WO PCT/JP2019/051649 patent/WO2020138507A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-12-26 US US17/299,353 patent/US11567445B2/en active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-10-13 US US17/965,055 patent/US11796958B2/en active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-01-19 JP JP2023006492A patent/JP7379735B2/ja active Active
  • 2023-09-01 US US18/241,266 patent/US12228877B2/en active Active
  • 2023-11-01 JP JP2023187622A patent/JP7454098B2/ja active Active
• 2024
  • 2024-03-08 JP JP2024035754A patent/JP7562895B2/ja active Active
  • 2024-09-25 JP JP2024166108A patent/JP7749782B2/ja active Active
• 2025
  • 2025-01-02 US US19/007,729 patent/US20250130527A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events