JP6907709B2 - Process cartridge and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, a plotter, or a multifunction device having a plurality of functions thereof, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier or a photoconductor which is a latent image carrier is developed. The visible image is processed by the toner in the developer supplied from the apparatus. The visible image-processed toner image is transferred to a recording sheet or the like as a sheet-like recording medium, and is further fixed to be copied and output. A developing device used for visible image processing of an electrostatic latent image is known to use a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier in addition to a configuration using a one-component developer using only toner. ing.

As a developing device using a two-component developer, a magnetic brush is formed by adhering the toner in the two-component developer to a magnetic carrier on the surface of a developing sleeve as a developer carrier having a plurality of magnetic poles, and causing the ears to stand. The structure forming the above is known as a magnetic brush developing device. The developing sleeve on which the magnetic brush is supported on the surface is rotated to bring the toner on the supported magnetic brush into contact with the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor which is the latent image carrier. As a result, the toner in the developing agent is transferred to the electrostatic latent image by the electrostatic attraction generated between the electrostatic latent image and the electrostatic attraction. Hereinafter, the development sleeve is also referred to as a “development roller”. Therefore, the developing roller functions as a developer carrier.

In two-component development, the development gap, which is the distance between the developing roller and the photoconductor, which is set to attach a desired amount of toner to the photoconductor, prevents the occurrence of abnormal images and stabilizes the image quality. Therefore, it is necessary to manage with high accuracy. When the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, an unintended force or load such as twisting is applied even though the desired development gap is set in the process cartridge having the photoconductor and the developing roller. By acting on the development gap forming portion of the cartridge, the development gap forming portion may be displaced and the development gap may change.
Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a process cartridge capable of adjusting the development gap even after the image forming apparatus is attached to the apparatus main body has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, conventional process cartridges such as Patent Document 1 require addition of parts and complicated configurations (a machine capable of adjusting the development gap and measuring the gap after mounting and setting the process cartridge on the apparatus main body is required). , There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge capable of stabilizing a development gap without using a complicated configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a process cartridge in which an image carrier and a developing device are integrated with a positioning member and is detachably configured with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The member is a member that determines the distance between the developer carrier provided in the developing apparatus and the image carrier facing the image carrier, and the positioning member is a pressing member provided in the apparatus main body. The pressed portion pressed by the device, the first positioned portion that engages with the main positioning portion provided on the device main body, and the second positioned portion that engages with the sub-positioning portion provided on the device main body. The pressed portion is located on a straight line passing through the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion, and the pressing member is movably configured, and the process. When the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the portion of the pressed portion that the pressing member first contacts is the portion where the positioning member is fixed to the process cartridge, and the pressing member comes into contact with the pressing member. It is a process cartridge having a protrusion integrally formed with the pressed portion at the contacted portion of the pressed portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge capable of stabilizing the development gap without using a complicated configuration, and it is possible to improve the deformation of the positioning member due to the sliding contact fluctuation. can.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the main part of the image forming part in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus provided with a developing apparatus. (A) is a view of the process cartridge according to one embodiment as viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus, and (b) is a view of the process cartridge as viewed from the rear side of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure of the front plate and the front cover of the process cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the main body side plate frame on the front side of the apparatus main body which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state of the front plate, the front cover, and the holding member when the process cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment is attached and set to the apparatus main body. It is a figure which shows the structure of the front plate which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure of the holding member which concerns on one Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the holding member which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view around a shaft and a cam which constitutes a holding member. It is a perspective view explaining the holding surface of a lever, etc. when the lever is viewed from the rear side. It is a figure around the front plate, the front cover, and the holding member of the process cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure around the front plate, the front cover, and the holding member of the process cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment. (A) is a view from the front side for explaining the configuration of the shutter of the developer replenishing device, which is a load for the process cartridge according to the embodiment to pop out from the device main body, and (b) is the back side opposite to (a). It is a figure explaining the structure which generates the reaction force of the shutter seen from the side. (A) is a diagram for explaining the shape of the pressed portion of the front plate according to one embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged view for explaining the detailed shape of the portion E shown by the alternate long and short dash line in (a). c) is an enlarged view for explaining the detailed shape of the convex portion of (b).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention including examples will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As long as there is no risk of confusion, the components (members, components) and the like having the same function and shape, etc. in each embodiment will be described once and then the same reference numerals will be given to omit the description. In order to simplify the drawings and explanations, even if the components should be represented in the drawings, the components that do not need to be particularly described in the drawings may be omitted without notice. When the components of the published patent gazette and the like are cited and explained, the reference numerals thereof shall be shown in parentheses to distinguish them from those of the respective embodiments and the like.
It should be noted that the term "fitting" used in the present specification means "fitting", "engagement" means "engaging", "locking" means stopping, and "fixing" means fixing. "Ambushing" means increasing the momentum, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an image forming portion in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Around the drum-shaped photoconductor 10 which is an image carrier, the roller-shaped charging device 11 provided on the left side in the drawing is sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow A of the photoconductor 10. The laser beam L is exposed and irradiated from the writing device on the downstream side, the developing device 12 located downstream from the exposed position, the transfer device 13 and the paper separating device 14 located on the right side of the downstream side, and the paper separating device. A cleaning device 15 located upstream of the device 14 is arranged.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 provided with a developing apparatus 12. In FIG. 2, the front side of the paper surface corresponds to the front side (front side) when the user operates the operation unit, the paper feed cassette, or the process cartridge 20 shown in FIG. 3 or the like. Further, the back side of the paper surface corresponds to the rear side where a drive mechanism or the like for transmitting the drive from the device main body 106 side of the image forming apparatus 100 to the process cartridge 20 is arranged.
When copying a document, the image forming apparatus 100 sets the document on the contact glass 101 and then presses the start button on the operation display unit. Then, at the same time that the image on the document is read by the optical reading device 102, the paper P as an example of the recording medium is fed between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer device 13 from below as shown by the arrows in the figure.

On the other hand, the photoconductor 10 is rotationally driven by a driving means such as a drive motor, and the surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 with the rotation, and the charged surface is irradiated with the laser beam L from the optical writing device 103. Is written. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned original image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10. When the photoconductor 10 passes through a position facing the developing device 12, the toner is supplied from the developing device 12 in a developing agent (two-component developing agent) containing toner and a carrier, so that the toner is transferred to the electrostatic latent image. It is attached and sequentially visualized. As described above, the visualized toner image is transferred by the transfer device 13 onto the paper P fed between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer device 13.

After the transfer, the paper P is separated from the photoconductor 10 that is electrostatically adhered by being discharged by the paper separation device 14, and is conveyed to the fixing device 104 where the transferred image is fixed and transferred to the paper ejection unit 105. It is discharged. Instead of the paper separating device 14, a separating claw may be provided to mechanically separate the paper P from the photoconductor 10. After the image transfer, the residual toner and the like remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 10 are scraped off by the cleaning blade 17 shown in FIG. 1 provided in the cleaning device 15 to clean the surface, and then statically eliminated by a static elimination lamp or the like. The surface potential is initialized.

In the image forming apparatus 100, the above-described photoconductor 10, the charging apparatus 11, the developing apparatus 12, the cleaning apparatus 15, and the like are integrated in a cartridge case 19 as a housing frame as shown in FIG. 3 and the like described later, and the process cartridge 20 is integrated. Consists of.
The process cartridge 20 is detachably installed on the device main body 106 of the image forming apparatus 100 via a detachable member provided on the device main body 106.

The process cartridge 20 is not limited to this, and at least the photoconductor 10 and the developing device 12 may be integrally provided and installed detachably from the device main body 106.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the process cartridge 20 according to the embodiment as viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus 100, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the process cartridge 20 as viewed from the rear side of the image forming apparatus 100. be. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the front plate 1 and the front cover 5 of the process cartridge 20.
Starting with FIGS. 3A to 3B, F is the front side of the process cartridge 20, R is the rear side of the process cartridge 20, and Y is the front-back direction of the image forming apparatus, that is, the photoconductor 10 and the like. It represents the longitudinal direction or the axial direction, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3B, the process cartridge 20 is provided between the front and rear main body side plates provided in the apparatus main body 106 of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to face the front and rear of the process cartridge 20. It is attached and detachably set.
The process cartridge 20 is provided with a cartridge case 19 for accommodating each of the charging device 11, the developing device 12, the cleaning device 15, and the like. Further, cartridge frames 9 are arranged in pairs at the front and rear ends of the cartridge case 19, and housing frames are arranged at the axial ends of the photoconductor 10 on the front and rear sides.

In such an image forming apparatus 100, in the developing apparatus 12 described above, as shown in FIG. 1, a developer stirring portion 21 is provided on the lower side of the apparatus, and a developer supporting portion 22 is provided on the upper side. The developer stirring unit 21 is provided with a rotating member for rotating and transporting a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, and a first transport screw 23 and a second transport screw 24 as transport members.
The first transfer screw 23 and the second transfer screw 24 also function as stirring members. Further, the developer stirring unit 21 is also provided with a toner concentration sensor that detects the mixing ratio of the toner in the developer and the carrier from, for example, the magnetic permeability.

As shown in FIG. 1, the developing agent supporting portion 22 controls a developing roller 28 serving as a developing agent carrier at a position facing the photoconductor 10 through a developing window 27 and a amount of the developing agent supplied to the photoconductor 10. The developing doctor 29 to be processed is arranged. In the developer carrying section 22, the developer sent from the developer stirring section 21 through the set longitudinal-sized opening is supported by the developing roller 28, then homogenized by the developing doctor 29, and the uniform development is performed. The toner in the agent is attached to the photoconductor 10 while rotating clockwise in the figure.
In the cleaning device 15 arranged around the photoconductor 10, a screw-shaped toner transporting member 30 for transporting residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 17 is provided in the cleaning case portion 15a of the cartridge case 19 of the photoconductor 10. It is arranged in the axial direction.

During development, the developing apparatus 12 drives a drive motor, transmits the drive to rotate the developing roller 28 of FIG. 1, and rotates the first transfer screw 23 and the second transfer screw 24 to stir the developer. Then, the toner and the carrier are frictionally charged and conveyed to the developing roller 28. On the other hand, a development bias is applied to the developing roller 28 to electrostatically adhere the toner in the developing agent to the surface of the photoconductor 10, and a latent image on the surface is visualized.

As described above, in the two-component development, in order to attach the toner in the developer regulated by the developing doctor 29 to the photoconductor 10, the amount of toner pumped up by the developing roller 28 (development sleeve) is statically applied to the photoconductor 10. The accuracy of the distance between the developing roller 28 and the photoconductor 10 for electrically adhering the toner is important.
The distance (development gap) between the developing roller 28 and the photoconductor 10 is the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 10 and the developing roller 28 in order to position the rotating shaft 28a of the developing roller 28 and the rotating shaft of the photoconductor 10. It is determined by the distance between the pitches held by the front plate 1 and the rear plate 2 as positioning members as shown in FIG. 3, which are arranged in pairs at both ends of the above. The front plate 1 functions as one of the pair of positioning members, and the rear plate 2 functions as the other positioning member.

Therefore, in order to improve the image quality and secure the image density, it is necessary to accurately maintain the gap (development gap) which is the distance between the developing roller 28 (development sleeve) and the photoconductor 10. Therefore, in the front plate 1 and the rear plate 2, the rotation shaft 28a of the developing roller 28 and the rotation shaft of the photoconductor 10 are positioned with high accuracy in order to maintain the development gap in a predetermined range. The development gap, which is the distance between the development roller 28 (development sleeve) and the photoconductor 10, is set to about 0.1 to 0.5 mm, although it varies depending on the target image quality.
In the present embodiment, the front plate 1 and the rear plate 2 are formed by using a resin (engineering plastic or the like) so as to obtain predetermined strength and rigidity. This contributes to weight reduction, reduction of environmental load, and cost reduction. Of course, it may be formed of a metal such as sheet metal having excellent strength.

The front plate 1 shown in FIG. 3B is fixed to the outer surface of each cartridge frame 9 and the housing frame that supports the photoconductor shaft by fastening members such as screws. The photoconductor shaft end on the front side is exposed to the front side from the housing frame, and the front plate 1 is installed with a gap so as not to come into contact with the photoconductor shaft end. The cartridge frames may be directly fixed by a connecting member such as a screw.
The rear surface plate 2 is fixed to the outer surface of each cartridge frame 9 or housing frame by fastening members such as screws. The rear surface plate 2 positions the outer diameter side of the photoconductor shaft portion 10a of the photoconductor 10 and the outer diameter side of the rotating shaft 28a of the developing roller 28 to hold a developing gap. Therefore, unlike the front plate 1 side, the rear surface plate 2 side can omit the rear housing frame that supports the photoconductor shaft. By fixing the front plate 1 and the rear plate 2 with screws or the like in this way, the distance between the photoconductor and the developing roller provided in the cartridge frame of the developing apparatus is determined.

Further, the rear surface plate 2 has a positioning pin 4 for positioning with the apparatus main body and an inner diameter recess of the photoconductor shaft portion 10a. The inner diameter side of the photoconductor shaft portion 10a on the rear surface plate 2 side engages with and fits into the main positioning portion that serves as the main reference as the main positioning means provided on the main body side plate frame on the rear side of the apparatus main body 106. Therefore, the inner diameter side of the photoconductor shaft portion 10a functions as a main positioning means / main positioning portion with the apparatus main body 106. The positioning pin 4 of the rear surface plate 2 engages with a slave positioning fitting hole that serves as a slave reference as a slave positioning portion provided in the main body side plate frame on the rear side of the device main body 106. Therefore, the positioning pin 4 functions as a slave positioning means / slave positioning unit with the device main body 106.

When the process cartridge 20 is mounted and set on the apparatus main body 106 by the rear surface plate 2 having such a master-slave positioned portion, the process cartridge 20 is engaged with and fitted with the inner diameter of the rear surface plate 2 and the photoconductor shaft portion 10a. The rear side of the process cartridge 20 is positioned in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the axial direction with respect to the main body side plate frame on the rear side of the apparatus main body 106. The axial direction referred to here is the direction of the photoconductor axis, the front-rear direction Y, and the length direction of the cartridge case 19 or the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 28.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106 of FIG. 2, showing a state in which the pressing member 35 occupies a non-pressing position and is released before mounting the process cartridge 20. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which the process cartridge 20 is locked by the front plate 1, the front cover 5, and the pressing member 35 when the process cartridge 20 is mounted and set on the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106. be.
The main body side plate frame on the rear side and the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106 in FIG. 2 are formed of sheet metal, and a large number of holes and notch openings for attaching various members are formed. It should be added that some members that are closely related to the present embodiment are omitted in order to clarify.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side is formed with an opening 31a for inserting the process cartridge 20. The opening 31a is an opening through which the process cartridge 20 is smoothly inserted so as not to interfere with various members such as the rear plate 2, the cartridge frame 9, and the cartridge case 19 on the rear side of the process cartridge 20 when the process cartridge 20 is attached and detached. have.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106 has a slave reference pin 33 as a slave positioning means / slave positioning unit as a slave reference, and a main positioning means / main positioning portion as a main reference. The main reference pin 32 is fixed so as to protrude from the frame surface in the front side F (in front of the paper surface in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface which is also the axial direction) in the front-rear direction Y. The main reference pin 32 and the slave reference pin 33 are fixed to the frame surface of the left and right main body side plate frames 31 outside the opening surface of the opening 31a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body side plate frame 31 is provided with a pressing member 35. The pressing member 35 has a lever 37 or the like that can swing in the direction of the broken line arrow about the shaft 36 protruding toward the front side of the frame surface of the main body side plate frame 31. As shown in FIG. 6, the process cartridge 20 is inserted from the position of the released lever 37 in FIG. 5, the lever 37 is rotated 180 degrees to the holding position (lock position), and the process cartridge 20 is mounted. The details of the pressing member 35 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13 and the like described later.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 with the front cover 5 of the process cartridge 20 removed. On the rear side of the front plate 1, a rotating shaft 28a on the front side of the developing roller 28, a photoconductor shaft portion 10a on the front side of the photoconductor 10, and a support portion for supporting them are formed on the cartridge frame 9 and the housing frame. .. The front plate 1 is fixed to the outer surface of each cartridge frame 9 or housing frame by fastening members such as screws. As a result, a predetermined development gap is maintained.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 7, the front plate 1 is formed with a heat seal drawing hole 1a for pulling out the sheet-shaped heat seal to the front side F in the front-rear direction Y. In FIGS. 1 and 2, at the time of shipment of the image forming apparatus 100, the heat seal has a developer carrying portion 22 including a developing roller 28 of the developing apparatus 12 and a developing agent stirring portion containing a second transfer screw 24. It separates from 21. This makes it possible to prevent the developer from leaking to the outside from the developing window 27 and to prevent the toner from sticking to the surface of the developing roller 28 during transportation and storage before use. When the process cartridge 20 is mounted, the heat seal exposed on the front side F is pulled out from the heat seal pull-out hole 1a to the front side F.

The front plate 1 shown in FIG. 7 is formed with a pressed portion 1b in which the front plate 1 is pressed by the swinging motion of the pressing member 35 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, which will be described later, the pressed portion 1b has a stepped shape that projects from the front surface of the front plate 1 to the front side in the front-rear direction Y to the vicinity of the frame surface 31 of the main body side plate frame 31. Therefore, the vicinity of the portion D surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7 is the pressing position of the lever 37 in which the pressing surface 37a engages with the pressed portion 1b when the lever 37 is positioned upward as shown in FIG. The process cartridge 20 is locked at the pressing position when the lever 37 of the rotated pressing member 35 shown in FIG. 6 is positioned upward.

In FIG. 6, when the lever 37 is located above and occupies the pressing position, the portion where the pressing surface 37a contacts and engages with the pressed portion 1b is shown in a dotted pattern. As shown in detail in FIG. 15 described later, the pressed portion 1b has a shape in which ribs are discharged and connected to the front side in the front-rear direction Y. The pressing surface 37a of the lever 37 is a rear end surface of a rib integrally formed with the lever 37, as shown by a dotted pattern in FIG. 11 described later. When the lever 37 is positioned upward as shown in FIG. 6, the rib having the pressing surface 37a and the rib of the pressing portion 1b having the pressing surface abut each other.

The front plate 1 is formed with two screw fixing holes 1c and 1d for fastening and fixing the front plate 1 to the cartridge frame 9 of the cleaning device on the front side of the process cartridge 20 and the cartridge frame 9 of the developing device with screws.

Further, the front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 is formed with a main fitting hole 1e and a slave fitting hole 1f formed of an elongated hole. The slave fitting hole 1f functions as a slave positioning means / second positioned portion that engages with and fits into the slave reference pin 33, which is a slave positioning portion provided on the main body side plate frame 31 of FIG. The main fitting hole 1e functions as a main positioning means / first positioned portion that engages and fits with the main reference pin 32 that is the main positioning portion provided on the main body side plate frame 31 of FIG.
When the process cartridge 20 is inserted into the apparatus main body 106 by the front plate 1 having the first and second positioned portions, the front side of the process cartridge 20 via the front plate 1 is the main body side plate of the apparatus main body 106. By fitting and fitting into the frame 31, positioning in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is performed. The front plate 1 side may be a pin and the main body side plate frame 31 side may be a hole.

When the process cartridge 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 106 and set, the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 is swung so that the pressing surface 37a (see FIGS. 6, 8, 9, and 11) is covered with the front plate 1. By engaging with the pressing portion 1b to lock the process cartridge 20, the process cartridge 20 is prevented from protruding from the device main body 106, that is, the front plate 1 from the main body side plate frame 31 in the axial direction.

By such a front plate 1 and the pressing member 35, the front side of the process cartridge 20 is positioned via the front plate 1 at the surface position of the main body side plate frame 31 of the apparatus main body 106, that is, in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, due to the front plate 1 having the master-slave positioned portion and the pressing member 35 described above, the front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 is in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the axial direction (three-dimensional direction) with respect to the main body side plate frame 31. ) Is positioned.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state of the front plate 1, the front cover 5, and the pressing member 35 when the process cartridge 20 is mounted and set on the apparatus main body 106. The front cover 5 is made of resin, and the heat seal drawing hole 5a for pulling out the heat seal described above is formed through the front cover 5 so as to communicate with the heat seal pulling out hole 1a of the front plate 1. Further, the front cover 5 is formed with a front handle portion 5b that allows one hand to hold and operate the process cartridge 20 when the process cartridge 20 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 106. The front cover 5 is fastened to the front plate 1 via screws 7.

When the process cartridge 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 106, the front cover 5 of FIG. 6 has the main reference pin 32 and the slave reference of the main body side plate frame 31 shown in FIG. 5 from the main fitting hole 1e and the slave fitting hole 1f. The protrusion of the pin 33 toward the front side of the paper is covered to ensure safety during user attachment / detachment operation and maintenance.

The front handle portion 5b contributes to the user can easily and reliably perform the attachment / detachment operation and maintenance of the process cartridge 20. That is, when the process cartridge 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 106 and the setting is completed, the position of the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 is close to the position of the front handle portion 5b, so that it is possible to prevent forgetting to operate the lever. You can make a reliable set. The front cover 5 can also be integrally formed with the front plate 1.

The pressing member 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. 8 is an external perspective view of the pressing member 35, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the pressing member 35, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shaft 36 constituting the pressing member 35 and the cam 39, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pressing member 35. It is a perspective view which looked at the lever 37 at the locked position (holding position) from the rear side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the front plate 1, the front cover 5, and the pressing member 35, and is a view in which the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106 is omitted and the lever 37 is set and locked. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the front plate 1, the front cover 5, and the holding member 35 of the process cartridge 20. The front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 is attached to the main body side plate frame 31 on the front side of the apparatus main body 106, and the lever 37 is set. It is a figure before being made.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, the mechanism of the pressing member 35 is the positioning of the metal shaft 36 fixed to the main body side plate frame 31 of the process cartridge 20, the lever 37 serving as the user's operation unit, and the lever 37. A cam 39 for use, a spring 38, and a screw 40 for preventing the lever 37 from coming off from the shaft 36 are provided.

The shaft end portion 36a of the shaft 36 is fixed to the main body side plate frame 31 by being crimped into the hole of the main body side plate frame 31 shown in FIG. The spring 38 is composed of a compression spring mounted between the shaft end portion 36a on the caulking side and the cam 39, and always urges the cam 39 in a direction away from the main body side plate frame 31. As shown in FIG. 10, a D-cut portion 36b is formed in the engaging portion of the shaft 36 with the cam 39 by cutting out a part of the outer peripheral portion of the shaft 36.
The lever 37 serves as an operation unit for the user, and is configured to be reciprocally oscillating and rotating within a range of 180 degrees around the shaft 36. Further, the lever 37 in contact with and engaged with the cam 39 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction Y, which is the length direction of the shaft 36. On the rear side of the lever 37 (R side in the front-rear direction Y), a pressing surface 37a that contacts and engages with the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1 shown in FIG. 7 or the like is formed. The screw 40 is screwed into a female screw formed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 36 on the side opposite to the shaft end portion 36a to prevent the lever 37 from coming off the shaft 36.

As shown in FIG. 10, the cam 39 is inserted through the shaft 36, rotation with respect to the shaft 36 is restricted by engagement with the D-cut portion 36b, and the cam 39 can move only in the front-rear direction Y by the urging force of the spring 38. It has become. The cam 39 is formed with two recessed notch grooves 39a for fixing the rotation position of the lever 37 at every 180 degree inscribed angle (in FIG. 10, the lower notch groove in the vertical direction Z is formed). 39a is hidden). The cam 39 is made of sintered metal to ensure the required strength and rigidity.
The lever 37 and the cam 39 are not limited to the above materials, and may be formed of a metal having excellent strength as long as the functions are satisfied.
As shown in FIG. 11, a convex portion 37b that engages with and fits with the notch groove 39a of the cam 39 is integrally formed at the rear R portion of the lever 37 that is engaged with the shaft 36 in the front-rear direction Y. ing. Further, the pressing surface 37a of the lever 37 is a rear end surface of a rib integrally formed with the lever 37, as shown by a dotted pattern in FIG.

The mechanism of the pressing member 35 functions to suppress the protrusion of the front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 from the apparatus main body 106, and pushes the pressing member 35 into the rear side (back side of the paper surface) of the main body side plate frame 31 shown in FIG. It does not have a proper configuration.
As described above, in FIGS. 5, 6, 12, and 13, the pressing member 35 has the pressing position shown in FIGS. 6 and 12 for pressing the front plate 1 from protruding from the device main body 106 via the lever 37. , It is possible to swing between the non-pressing position shown in FIGS. 5 and 13 which is out of the pressing position.
As a result, the pressing member 35 has a function of positioning and fixing the front plate 1 of the process cartridge 20 to the apparatus main body 106 in the front-rear direction Y. When the pressing member 35 occupies the pressing position shown in FIGS. 6 and 12 for pressing the front plate 1 from protruding from the device main body 106 via the lever 37, the pressing member 35 does not reciprocate and swing unless an external force is applied. It is configured to be held in this holding position. In other words, when the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 occupies the pressing position shown in FIG. 6, the lever 37 is held in the locked state at that position.

Next, the operation of the pressing member 35 will be described.
After the user attaches the process cartridge 20 to the apparatus main body as described above, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 13, the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 in the non-pressing position is turned counterclockwise. At this time, since the convex portion 37b of the lever 37 shown in FIG. 11 and the hidden notch groove 39a on the lower side of the cam 39 shown in FIG. 10 are fitted, the user can use the urging force of the spring 38. The fitting state is released by turning the lever 37 counterclockwise so as to press the lever 37 against the rear side R in the front-rear direction Y. After that, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing surface 37a rides on the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1, and the pressing surface 37a of the lever 37 on the main body side plate frame 31 side presses the portion of the pressing portion 1b of the front plate 1. Hold down. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the convex portion 37b of the lever 37 fits into the notch groove 39a on the upper side of the cam 39, so that the pressing member 35 occupies the pressing position and is in the locked state. Through such an operation, the front plate 1 engages with the main body side plate frame 31, and positioning in the front-rear direction Y is performed. The unlocking operation is performed in the reverse order of the operation described above.

The shutter 52 involved in the engagement between the process cartridge 20 and the developer replenishing device of the apparatus main body 106 will be described with reference to FIG. 14 (a) is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the shutter 52 of the developer replenishing device in the apparatus main body, and FIG. 14 (b) is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the shutter 52 when viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 14 (a). It is a figure. In FIG. 14, Z indicates a vertical / vertical direction. Therefore, the toner falls from the top to the bottom and is replenished to the process cartridge side from the developer discharge port 51 of the developer replenishing device 45.
As shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b), when the process cartridge mounted on the device body is mounted on the device body, the process cartridge is mounted on the device body corresponding to the rear side of the process cartridge. A developer replenishing device 45 for replenishing the developing agent is provided in the developing device. The developer replenishment device 45 is provided with a developer discharge port 51 formed for replenishing the process cartridge with the developer, and a shutter 52 as a developer discharge port opening / closing member for opening / closing the developer discharge port 51. There is. As shown in FIG. 14B, there is always development between the spring locking portion 52b provided on the shutter 52 and the spring locking portion 45a provided on the frame on the developer replenishing device 45 side. A tension spring 53 that urges the agent discharge port 51 to close is attached. As a result, when the process cartridge is detached from the main body of the apparatus, the shutter 52 is moved by the urging force of the tension spring 53 so that the developer does not leak from the developer discharge port 51 to be replenished. Will be closed. FIG. 14 shows a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the shutter 52 is opened, and the developer discharge port 51 is opened.

When the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body in the mounting direction Ya, a part of the cartridge case on the rear side of the process cartridge engages with a part 52a of the shutter 52 in a state where the developer discharge port 51 is closed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the shutter 52 is released against the urging force of the tension spring 53. In this way, the shutter 52 is released against the urging force of the tension spring 53 in conjunction with the movement of the process cartridge in the mounting direction Ya, so that the process cartridge does not pop out from the device body when the process cartridge is mounted. The load is always applied. The above-mentioned pressing member is required in order to suppress the load of popping out from the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is attached.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, when viewed from the axial direction, the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1 pressed by the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 is located between the photoconductor shaft portion 10a and the slave fitting hole 1f. The pressed portion 1b is formed between the main fitting hole 1e and the slave fitting hole 1f on a straight line between the photoconductor shaft portion 10a and the slave fitting hole 1f and a straight line between the main fitting hole 1e and the slave fitting hole 1f. Be on top.
That is, the pressed portion 1b, the photoconductor shaft portion 10a, the slave fitting hole 1f, and the slave fitting hole 1f become linear. More specifically, the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1 is located on a straight line SL connecting the center 10ac of the photoconductor shaft portion 10a and the center 1fc of the slave fitting hole 1f. Further, the pressed portion 1b is located on a straight line SL connecting the center 1ec of the main fitting hole 1e and the center 1fc of the slave fitting hole 1f. By doing so, even if the front plate 1 is deformed when the pressing member 35 engages with the pressed portion 1b, the photoconductor shaft portion 10a, the slave fitting hole 1f, and the main fitting hole 1e serve as a support. , Twisting and bending are eliminated, and the development gap can be stabilized. Further, the photoconductor shaft portion 10a is engaged and fitted as a main positioning portion with the apparatus main body 106 on the rear surface plate 2 side, and by providing the pressed portion 1b at such a position, the process cartridge 20 and the apparatus main body are provided. It is also possible to stabilize the transfer gap of the transfer device 13 of 106.

With reference to FIG. 15, the detailed shape of the pressed portion 1b in the front plate 1 will be supplemented. FIG. 15 (a) is a perspective view for explaining the shape of the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1, and FIG. 15 (b) is for explaining the detailed shape of the portion E shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 15 (a). An enlarged perspective view, FIG. 15 (c) is an enlarged side view for further explaining the detailed shape of the convex portion 1 bb of FIG. 15 (b).
The pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1 and the pressing surface 37a of the lever 37 of the pressing member 35 that engages with the pressed portion 1b are provided with a taper 1ba as a tapered portion at the engaging portion in order to improve the settability, and the front plate 1 is steepened. Prevents deformation. Further, at the engaging portion of the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1, a convex portion 1bb which is a protruding portion is provided in order to reduce the contact area with the pressed portion 1b when the lever 37 swings to the pressing position. The deformation of the front plate 1 due to the sliding contact fluctuation is improved. The convex portion 1bb may be provided at least one place, that is, a plurality of places, and there is an advantage that the user can obtain an operation click feeling.

The shape of the convex portion 1bb is set to bite into the lever 37, and when the lever 37 first rides on the pressed portion 1b, the process cartridge 20 is deformed or loaded. In order to reduce the influence of the development gap fluctuation of the process cartridge 20 due to this load, the front plate 1 is developed on the front side of the process cartridge 20 at the position where the lever 37 first contacts the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1. The cartridge frame 9 of the apparatus is provided with a screw fixing hole 1d for fastening and fixing with screws, and is fastened and fixed with screws. Therefore, the screw fastening portion serves as an abutting surface between the front plate 1 and the cartridge frame 9, and the rigidity of the front plate 1 and the cartridge frame 9 is increased, so that the development gap can be stabilized.

According to the present embodiment, by installing supports on both sides of the pressed portion 1b of the front plate 1 pressed by the lever 37 of the pressing member 35, the load and urging of the pressing surface 37a of the lever 37 can be applied to the process cartridge 20. It can prevent it from falling or twisting. Therefore, it is unlikely to affect the fluctuation of the development gap.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the process cartridge 20 capable of stabilizing the development gap without using a complicated configuration.

It can be said that the following first to tenth aspects are substantially described in the above-described embodiments and the like.
The first aspect is to the apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus such as the apparatus main body 106 in which an image carrier such as a photoconductor 10 and a developing device such as a developing device 12 are integrated by a positioning member such as a front plate 1. A process cartridge such as a process cartridge 20 that is detachably configured, and the positioning member is a distance between a developer carrier such as a developing roller 28 provided in a developing apparatus facing the image carrier and the image carrier. The positioning member is a pressed portion such as a pressed portion 1b that is pressed by a pressing member such as a pressing member 35 provided on the apparatus main body, and a main reference pin 32 or the like provided on the apparatus main body. A first supported portion such as a main fitting hole 1e that engages with a positioning portion and a second cover such as a slave fitting hole 1f that engages a slave positioning portion such as a slave reference pin 33 provided on the main body of the apparatus. It has a positioning portion, and the pressed portion is located on a straight line SL passing through the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion.

According to such a first aspect, it is possible to provide a process cartridge capable of stabilizing the development gap without using a complicated configuration.

In the second aspect, the image carrier such as the photoconductor 10 and the developing device such as the developing device 12 are integrated with a positioning member such as the front plate 1 with respect to the device main body of the image forming device such as the device main body 106. A process cartridge such as a process cartridge 20 that is detachably configured, and the positioning member is a distance between a developer carrier such as a developing roller 28 provided in a developing apparatus facing the image carrier and the image carrier. The positioning member is a pressed portion such as a pressed portion 1b that is pressed by a pressing member such as a pressing member 35 provided on the apparatus main body, and a main reference pin 32 or the like provided on the apparatus main body. A first supported portion such as a main fitting hole 1e that engages with a positioning portion and a second cover such as a slave fitting hole 1f that engages a slave positioning portion such as a slave reference pin 33 provided on the main body of the apparatus. It has a positioning portion and a rotating shaft positioned portion for positioning a rotating shaft such as a photoconductor shaft portion 10a at the end of an image carrier, and the pressed portion has a first positioned portion and a second covered portion. It is located on a straight line SL passing through the positioning portion and the rotating shaft positioned portion.
According to the second aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect described above is obtained.

The third aspect is that in the process cartridge of the first or second aspect, the pressing member is movably configured, and when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the pressing member first contacts the pressed portion. Is a place where the positioning member is fixed to the process cartridge.
According to the third aspect, the rigidity is increased and the development gap can be stabilized.

A fourth aspect is that in any one of the process cartridges of the first to third aspects, the pressed portion is arranged between the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion.
According to the fourth aspect, since the displacement and deformation of the positioning member are suppressed, the positioning accuracy when the positioning member is mounted and fixed to the apparatus main body is improved.

In the fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the process cartridge has a protrusion such as a convex portion 1bb at a contacted portion such as an engaging portion of the pressed portion with which the pressing member contacts.
According to the fifth aspect, the deformation of the positioning member due to the sliding contact variation can be improved.

In the sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the process cartridge has a tapered portion such as a taper 1ba at a contacted portion such as an engaging portion of the pressed portion with which the pressing member contacts.
According to the sixth aspect, sudden deformation of the positioning member can be prevented.

A seventh aspect is an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.
According to the seventh aspect, the effect of the process cartridge of any one of the first to sixth aspects is achieved by the image forming apparatus.

In the eighth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, the pressing member is configured to be swingable between a pressing position for pressing the pressed portion and a non-pressing position deviating from the pressing position.

A ninth aspect is that in the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, when the pressing member occupies the pressing position, the pressing member is held in the pressing position unless an external force is applied.
According to the ninth aspect, the positioning accuracy function of the positioning member can be maintained and the safety can be ensured.

A tenth aspect is that in the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, the pressing position is closer to the handle portion such as the front handle portion 5b of the process cartridge than the non-pressing position.
According to the tenth aspect, when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus and the setting is completed, the position of the lever of the pressing member is close to the position of the handle portion, so that the lever operation of the pressing member is performed. You can prevent forgetting and make a reliable set.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and unless otherwise specified in the above description, the present invention described in the claims. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the invention.

The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention merely list the most preferable effects arising from the present invention, and the effects according to the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not it.

1 Front plate (an example of positioning member)
1b Pressed part 1ba taper (an example of tapered part)
1bb Convex part (example of protruding part)
1bc Center of pressed portion 1c, 1d Screw fixing hole 1e Main fitting hole (example of first main positioning portion)
1ec Center of main fitting hole 1f Subordinate fitting hole (example of second main positioning part)
Center of the 1fc従嵌Nyuana
2 Rear plate 4 Positioning pin 5 Front cover 9 Cartridge frame (example of housing frame)
10 Photoreceptor (an example of an image carrier)
10a Photoreceptor shaft (example of rotating shaft)
10ac Center of photoconductor shaft 11 Charging device 12 Developing device 15 Cleaning device 19 Cartridge case (example of housing frame)
20 Process cartridge 28 Development roller (example of developer carrier)
32 Main reference pin (example of main positioning part)
33 Sub-reference pin (an example of sub-positioning unit)
35 Pressing member 36 Shaft 37 Lever 37a Pressing surface 38 Spring 39 Cam 100 Image forming device 106 Device body F Front side R Rear side Y Front-back direction (an example in the longitudinal direction)
Z Vertical direction

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-141250

Claims (8)

It is a process cartridge in which an image carrier and a developing device are integrated with a positioning member, and is configured to be removable from the device body of the image forming device.
The positioning member is a member that determines the distance between the developer carrier provided in the developing apparatus and the image carrier so as to face the image carrier.
The positioning member is provided on the apparatus main body, a pressed portion pressed by the pressing member provided on the apparatus main body, a first positioned portion engaging with the main positioning portion provided on the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body. It has a second positioned portion that engages with the slave positioning portion, and has.
The pressed portion is located on a straight line passing through the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion.
The holding member is movably configured.
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the portion of the pressed portion that the pressing member first contacts is the portion where the positioning member is fixed to the process cartridge.
A process cartridge having a protrusion integrally formed with the pressed portion at a contacted portion of the pressed portion with which the pressing member contacts. It is a process cartridge in which an image carrier and a developing device are integrated with a positioning member, and is configured to be removable from the device body of the image forming device.
The positioning member is a member that determines the distance between the developer carrier provided in the developing apparatus and the image carrier so as to face the image carrier.
The positioning member is provided on the apparatus main body, a pressed portion pressed by the pressing member provided on the apparatus main body, a first positioned portion engaging with the main positioning portion provided on the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body. It has a second positioned portion that engages with the slave positioning portion, and a rotating shaft positioned portion that positions the rotating shaft at the end of the image carrier.
The pressed portion is located on a straight line passing through the first positioned portion, the second positioned portion, and the rotating shaft positioned portion.
The holding member is movably configured.
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the portion of the pressed portion that the pressing member first contacts is the portion where the positioning member is fixed to the process cartridge.
A process cartridge characterized by having a protrusion integrally formed with the pressed portion at a contacted portion of the pressed portion with which the pressing member contacts. In the process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2.
A process cartridge characterized in that the pressed portion is arranged between the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion. In the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A process cartridge having a tapered portion at a contacted portion of the pressed portion with which the pressing member contacts. An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4. In the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the pressing member is configured to swing between a pressing position for pressing the pressed portion and a non-pressing position deviating from the pressing position . In the image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, when the pressing member occupies the pressing position, the pressing member is held at the pressing position unless an external force is applied. In the image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the pressing position is closer to the handle portion of the process cartridge than the non-pressing position.

Images