Cartridge

Abstract

To further develop a prior art.SOLUTION: A cartridge has a holding part that is movably supported by a first unit or a second unit, regulates the relative positions of the first unit and the second unit, and is movable between a first position for holding the second unit at a separation position with the first unit, and a second position for holding the second unit at a developing position with the first unit. The holding part is movable from the first position to the second position by force received by a driving force receiving part so as to rotate in a predetermined direction, and is movable from the second position to the first position by the force received by the driving force receiving part so as to rotate in the predetermined direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that employs an electrophotographic method, a cartridge that can be attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

[0002] Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as an "image forming apparatus") forms an image on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper using the electrophotographic image forming method. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), and a multifunction machine (multifunction printer) thereof.

[0003] A cartridge is a unit that can be attached to and detached from the above-described image forming apparatus, and is a unit having a photoreceptor and / or process means (for example, a charging member, a developing member, a cleaning member, etc.) that act on the photoreceptor.

Background Art

[0004] There is an image forming apparatus that forms an image by a contact development method in which a developing member (developing roller) performs a developing process in a state of being in contact with a photosensitive drum using the electrophotographic image forming method. In such an image forming apparatus, during the period when the developing process is being performed, the developing roller is biased toward the photosensitive drum with a predetermined pressure and is in a state of being in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum with a predetermined pressure.

[0005] When using a developing roller having an elastic layer on its surface, for example, the following may be considered. That is, if the period during which image formation is not performed (the developing roller is not rotating) while the elastic layer is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum becomes long, the elastic layer of the developing roller may be deformed due to contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum. As a result, image defects such as unevenness of the developer image may occur unintentionally when the developing process is performed.

[0006] Also, as another example, if the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum during a period when the developing process is not being performed, the developer carried on the developing roller may undesirably adhere to the photosensitive drum, and the developer may adhere to the recording medium, thereby soiling the recording medium. This can occur regardless of the presence or absence of the elastic layer on the surface of the developing roller.

[0007] Also, as another example, if the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are in contact and rotating for a long period outside the period when the developing process is being performed, the deterioration of the photosensitive drum, the developing roller, or the developer may be accelerated due to the rubbing between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. This can occur regardless of the presence or absence of the elastic layer on the surface of the developing roller.

[0008] In order to cope with the above-described cases, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a configuration in which an image forming apparatus and a cartridge are provided with a structure for separating the developing roller from the surface of the photosensitive drum during a period when the developing process is not being performed or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] However, there is still room for further improvement in the conventional technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Therefore, the present disclosure aims to further develop the conventional technologies.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] To achieve the above object, a representative configuration of the invention according to the present application is a cartridge, comprising a photoreceptor, a charging member for charging the photoreceptor, a first unit including the photoreceptor and the charging member, a developing member for attaching toner to the photoreceptor, a driving force receiving portion rotatable in a predetermined direction by receiving a driving force for rotationally driving the photoreceptor or the developing member, a second unit including the developing member and movable between a developing position where toner can be attached from the developing member to the photoreceptor and a separated position where at least a part of the developing member is disposed away from the photoreceptor by moving relative to the first unit, and a holding portion movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, regulating a relative position between the first unit and the second unit, and holding the second unit at the separated position by the first unit and holding the second unit at the developing position by the first unit, between a first position and a second position; wherein the driving force receiving portion is capable of transmitting a driving force to the holding portion when rotated, and the holding portion is movable from the first position to the second position by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction, and is movable from the second position to the first position by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction. A cartridge characterized by the above is provided.

[0012] Also, a cartridge comprising: a photoreceptor; a charging member for charging the photoreceptor; a first unit including the photoreceptor and the charging member; a developing member for attaching toner to the photoreceptor; a driving force receiving portion rotatable in a predetermined direction upon receiving a driving force for rotationally driving the photoreceptor or the developing member; a second unit including the developing member and movable between a developing position where toner can be attached from the developing member to the photoreceptor and a separated position where at least a part of the developing member is disposed away from the photoreceptor by moving relative to the first unit; a holding portion movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, regulating the relative position between the first unit and the second unit, and holding the second unit at the separated position by the first unit and holding the second unit at the developing position by the first unit; and a biasing portion for biasing the holding portion, wherein the driving force receiving portion can transmit a driving force to the holding portion when rotated, the holding portion is movable from the first position to the second position by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction, and is movable from the second position to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present disclosure, the prior art can be further developed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] In the following embodiments, the embodiments in the present disclosure will be illustratively described. However, the configurations disclosed in the following embodiments, for example, the functions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components, are examples of the forms related to the scope of the claims, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the configurations disclosed in these embodiments. Further, the problems solved by the configurations disclosed in the following embodiments or the actions or effects obtained from the disclosed configurations are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0016] <Example 1> Hereinafter, Example 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a laser beam printer in which four process cartridges (cartridges) are detachable is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. Further, the number of process cartridges attached to the image forming apparatus is not limited to this, and may be appropriately set as necessary.

[0017] [Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 100. This image forming apparatus M is a four-color full-color laser printer using an electrophotographic process, and forms a color image on a recording medium S. The image forming apparatus M is of a process cartridge type, and the process cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) 170 to form a color image on the recording medium S.

[0018] Here, with respect to the image forming apparatus M, the side provided with the front door 11 is defined as the front (front surface), and the surface opposite to the front is defined as the back (rear surface). Further, when the image forming apparatus M is viewed from the front, the right side is referred to as the drive side, and the left side is referred to as the non-drive side. Further, when the image forming apparatus M is viewed from the front, the upper side is defined as the upper surface, and the lower side is defined as the lower surface. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M viewed from the non-drive side, with the front of the image forming apparatus M being the side closer to the viewer of the paper, the front of the image forming apparatus M being the right side of the paper, and the drive side of the image forming apparatus M being the back side of the paper.

[0019] Also, the drive side of the process cartridge 100 is the side on which a drum coupling member (photosensitive member coupling member), which will be described later, is arranged with respect to the axis direction of the photosensitive drum (the axis direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum). Further, the drive side of the process cartridge 100 is the side on which a developing coupling portion 132a, which will be described later, is arranged with respect to the axis direction of the developing roller (developing member) (the axis direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller). Note that the axis direction of the photosensitive drum and the axis direction of the developing roller are parallel, and the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100 is also parallel to these.

[0020] In the image forming apparatus main body 170, four process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K), namely, a first process cartridge 100Y, a second process cartridge 100M, a third process cartridge 100C, and a fourth process cartridge 100K, are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0021] Each of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) has the same electrophotographic process mechanism, and the colors of the developers (hereinafter referred to as toners) are different from each other. A rotational driving force is transmitted to the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) from a drive output portion (details will be described later) of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Also, a bias voltage (charging bias, developing bias, etc.) is supplied to each of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) from the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) of the present embodiment has a drum unit 108 including a photosensitive drum 104 and a charging unit as a process means acting on the photosensitive drum 104. Here, the drum unit may have not only a charging unit but also a cleaning unit as a process means. Further, each of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) has a developing unit 109 including a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 104. Such a layout of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of photosensitive drums 104 are arranged substantially in a line may be called an in-line layout or a tandem layout.

[0023] In each of the first to fourth process cartridges 100, the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109 are coupled to each other. A more specific configuration of the process cartridge 100 will be described later.

[0024] The first process cartridge 100Y stores yellow (Y) toner in a developing container 125 and forms a yellow toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 104. The second process cartridge 100M stores magenta (M) toner in the developing container 125 and forms a magenta toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 104. The third process cartridge 100C stores cyan (C) toner in the developing container 125 and forms a cyan toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 104. The fourth process cartridge 100K stores black (K) toner in the developing container 125 and forms a black toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 104.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, above the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K), a laser scanner unit 14 as an exposure means is provided. This laser scanner unit 14 outputs a laser beam U corresponding to image information. Then, the laser beam U passes through the exposure window 110 of the process cartridge 100 and scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 104.

[0026] Below the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K), an intermediate transfer unit 12 as a transfer member is provided. This intermediate transfer unit 12 has a drive roller 12e, a turn roller 12c, and a tension roller 12b, and a flexible transfer belt 12a is wound around them. The photosensitive drums 104 of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) have their lower surfaces in contact with the upper surface of the transfer belt 12a. The contact portion is the primary transfer portion. Inside the transfer belt 12a, a primary transfer roller 12d is provided facing the photosensitive drum 104. The secondary transfer roller 6 is brought into contact with the turn roller 12c via the transfer belt 12a. The contact portion between the transfer belt 12a and the secondary transfer roller 6 is the secondary transfer portion.

[0027] Below the intermediate transfer unit 12, a feeding unit 4 is provided. This feeding unit 4 has a paper feed tray 4a for loading and accommodating the recording medium S and a paper feed roller 4b.

[0028] In the upper left of the image forming apparatus main body 170 in FIG. 2, a fixing device 7 and a paper discharge device 8 are provided. The upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 170 serves as a paper discharge tray 13. The recording medium S is heated and pressurized by a fixing means provided in the fixing device 7 to fix the toner image, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

[0029] [Image forming operation] The operations for forming a full-color image are as follows. The photosensitive drums 104 of the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) are rotationally driven at a predetermined speed (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3). The transfer belt 12a is also rotationally driven in the forward direction (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2) at a speed corresponding to the speed of the photosensitive drum 104 in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum.

[0030] The laser scanner unit 14 is also driven. In synchronization with the driving of the laser scanner unit 14, the charging roller 105 in each process cartridge uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 104 to a predetermined polarity and potential. The laser scanner unit 14 scans and exposes the surface of each photosensitive drum 104 with laser light U according to the image signals of each color. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 104. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 106 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed. By the electrophotographic image forming process operation as described above, a yellow toner image corresponding to the yellow component of the full-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 104 of the first process cartridge 100Y. Then, the toner image is primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 12a.

[0031] Similarly, a magenta toner image corresponding to the magenta component of the full-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 104 of the second process cartridge 100M. Then, the toner image is superimposed on the yellow toner image already transferred onto the transfer belt 12a and is primarily transferred. Similarly, a cyan toner image corresponding to the cyan component of the full-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 104 of the third process cartridge 100C. Then, the toner image is superimposed on the yellow and magenta toner images already transferred onto the transfer belt 12a and is primarily transferred. Similarly, a black toner image corresponding to the black component of the full-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 104 of the fourth process cartridge 100K. Then, the toner image is superimposed on the yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images already transferred onto the transfer belt 12a and is primarily transferred. In this way, an unfixed toner image of four-color full color, i.e., yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, is formed on the transfer belt 12a.

[0032] On the other hand, the recording media S are separated and fed one by one at a predetermined control timing. The recording media S are introduced into a secondary transfer portion, which is the contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 6 and the transfer belt 12a, at a predetermined control timing. As a result, in the process of transporting the recording media S to the secondary transfer portion, the four-color superimposed toner image on the transfer belt 12a is sequentially and collectively transferred onto the surface of the recording media S. Then, the recording media S are transported to the fixing device 7 to fix the toner image on the recording media S, and then further discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

[0033] [Schematic of Process Cartridge Detachable Configuration] The tray (hereinafter referred to as the tray) 171 that supports the process cartridge will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 to 7. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M in which the tray 171 is located inside the image forming apparatus main body 170 with the front door 11 open. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M in which the tray 171 is located outside the image forming apparatus main body 170 with the front door 11 open and the process cartridge 100 is housed inside the tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M in which the tray 171 is located outside the image forming apparatus main body 170 with the front door 11 open and the process cartridge 100 is removed from the tray. FIG. 7(a) is a partial detailed view of the tray 171 viewed from the driving side in the state of FIG. 4. FIG. 7(b) is a partial detailed view of the tray 171 viewed from the non-driving side in the state of FIG. 4.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tray 171 is movable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 170 in the direction of arrow X1 (pushing direction) and the direction of arrow X2 (pulling direction). That is, the tray 171 is provided so as to be pullable and pushable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 170, and in a state where the image forming apparatus main body 170 is installed on a horizontal plane, the tray 171 is configured to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction. Here, the state where the tray 171 is located outside the image forming apparatus main body 170 (the state of FIG. 5) is referred to as the outer position. Further, the state where the tray 171 is located inside the image forming apparatus main body 170 with the front door 11 open and the photosensitive drum 104 and the transfer belt 12a are separated (the state of FIG. 4) is referred to as the inner position.

[0035] Further, the tray 171 has a mounting portion 171a at an outer position, where the process cartridge 100 can be removably mounted as shown in FIG. 6. Each process cartridge 100 mounted on the mounting portion 171a at the outer position of the tray 171 is supported by the tray 171 by a drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and a non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 as shown in FIG. 7. Then, with the process cartridge 100 disposed on the mounting portion 171a, it moves inside the image forming apparatus main body 170 as the tray 171 moves. At this time, it moves with a gap between the transfer belt 12a and the photosensitive drum 104. For this reason, the photosensitive drum 04 does not come into contact with the transfer belt 12a, and the tray 171 can move the process cartridge 100 inside the image forming apparatus main body 170 (details will be described later).

[0036] As described above, the tray 171 can move a plurality of process cartridges 100 together to a position where image formation is possible inside the image forming apparatus main body 170, and can also pull them out together to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0037] [Positioning of Process Cartridge] More specifically, the positioning of the process cartridge 100 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the tray 171 is provided with positioning portions 171VR and 171VL for holding the cartridge 100, respectively. The positioning portion 171VR has straight portions 171VR1 and 171VR2, respectively. The arc portions 116VR1 and 116VR2 of the cartridge cover member 116 shown in FIG. 7 come into contact with the aforementioned straight portions 171VR1 and 171VR2, so that the center of the photosensitive drum is determined. Further, the tray 171 shown in FIG. 7 has a rotation-determining convex portion 171KR. When the rotation-determining convex portion 171KR fits into the rotation-determining concave portion 116KR of the cartridge cover member 116 shown in FIG. 7, the posture of the process cartridge 100 is determined with respect to the apparatus main body 170.

[0038] Note that a positioning portion 171VL and a rotation - determining convex portion 171KL are arranged at positions (non - driving side) facing each other across the intermediate transfer belt 12a in the longitudinal direction of the positioning portion 171VR and the process cartridge 100. That is, also on the non - driving side, the arc portions 117VL1 and 117VL2 of the cartridge cover member 117 engage with the positioning portion 171VL, and the rotation - determining concave portion 117KL engages with the rotation - determining convex portion 171KL, thereby determining the position of the process cartridge 100. By doing so, the position of the process cartridge 100 is correctly determined with respect to the tray 171.

[0039] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge 100 integrated with the tray 171 is moved in the direction of arrow X1 and inserted to the position shown in FIG. 4. Then, by closing the front door 11 in the direction of arrow R, the process cartridge 100 is pressed by a cartridge pressing mechanism (not shown later), and is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 170 together with the tray 171. Also, in conjunction with the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism, the transfer belt 12a comes into contact with the photoreceptor 4. When this state is reached, the state for image formation is achieved (FIG. 2).

[0040] Note that in this embodiment, since the positioning portion 171VR and the positioning portion 171VL also serve as a reinforcement for maintaining the rigidity in the drawing - out operation of the tray 171, a metal sheet metal is used, but it is not limited thereto.

[0041] [Cartridge Pressing Mechanism] Next, the details of the cartridge pressing mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8(a) shows only the process cartridge 100, the tray 171, the cartridge pressing mechanisms 190, 191, and the intermediate transfer unit 12 in the state of FIG. 4. FIG. 8(b) shows only the process cartridge 100, the tray 171, the cartridge pressing mechanisms 190, 191, and the intermediate transfer unit 12 in the state of FIG. 2.

[0042] Here, while the process cartridge 100 receives a driving force during image formation, it further receives a reaction force from the primary transfer roller 12d (FIG. 2) in the direction of arrow Z1. Therefore, in order for the process cartridge to maintain a stable posture without floating from the positioning portions 171VR and 171VL during the image formation operation, it is necessary to press the process cartridge in the Z2 direction.

[0043] To achieve these, in this embodiment, a cartridge pressing mechanism (190, 191) is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 170. The cartridge pressing mechanism (190, 191) has a memory element pressing unit 190 on the non-driving side and a cartridge pressing unit 191 on the driving side. This will be described in more detail below.

[0044] By closing the front door 11 shown in FIG. 4, the memory element pressing unit 190 and the cartridge pressing unit 191 shown in FIG. 8 descend in the direction of arrow Z2. The memory element pressing unit 190 mainly has a main body side electrical contact (not shown) that contacts an electrical contact (not shown) of a memory element (not shown) provided in the process cartridge 100. By interlocking with the front door 11 and a link mechanism (not shown), the memory element 140 and the main body side electrical contact can be brought into contact with and separated from each other. That is, the contacts come into contact when the front door 11 is closed, and the contacts are separated when the front door 11 is opened.

[0045] By doing so, when the process cartridge 100 moves inside the main body of the image forming apparatus together with the tray 171, the electrical contacts are not rubbed, and by retracting the contacts from the insertion / removal locus of the process cartridge 100, a configuration is provided that does not hinder the insertion / removal of the tray 171. This memory element pressing unit 190 also serves to press the process cartridge 100 against the aforementioned positioning portion 171VR. Similarly to the memory element pressing unit 190, the cartridge pressing unit 191 also descends in the direction of arrow Z2 in conjunction with the operation of closing the front door 11, and serves to press the process cartridge 100 against the aforementioned positioning portion 171VL. Further, although details will be described later, the cartridge pressing mechanisms (190, 191) also simultaneously serve to push down the moving members 152L, 152R of the process cartridge 100 described later.

[0046] [Drive transmission mechanism] Next, the drive transmission mechanism of the main body in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 (a view in which the tray 171 is omitted for convenience). FIG. 9(a) is a perspective view in the state of FIGS. 4 or 5 with the process cartridge 100 and the tray 171 omitted. FIG. 9(b) is a perspective view in the state of FIG. 1 with the process cartridge 100, the front door 11, and the tray 171 omitted. FIG. 10 is a side view of the process cartridge 100 as viewed from the drive side.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 10, the process cartridge in the present embodiment has a developing coupling portion (rotation drive force receiving portion) 132a and a drum coupling member (photosensitive member coupling member) 143. By closing the front door 11 (the state of FIG. 9(b)), the main body side drum drive coupling 180 and the main body side developing drive coupling 185 that transmit drive to the process cartridge 100 project in the direction of arrow Y1 by a link mechanism (not shown). Further, by opening the front door 11 (the state of FIG. 9(a)), the drum drive coupling 180 and the developing drive coupling 185 are configured to retract in the direction of arrow Y2. By retracting each coupling from the insertion / removal locus (X1 direction, X2 direction) of the process cartridge, a configuration is provided that does not hinder the insertion / removal of the tray 171.

[0048] When the front door 11 is closed and the drive of the image forming apparatus main body 170 is started, the above-mentioned drum drive coupling 180 engages with the drum coupling member 143. Furthermore, the main body side developing drive coupling 185 engages with the developing coupling portion 132a, and the drive is transmitted to the process cartridge 100. The drive transmission to the process cartridge 100 is not limited to two points as described above, and a mechanism may be provided in which the drive is input only to the drum coupling and the drive is transmitted to the developing roller.

[0049] [Intermediate transfer unit configuration] Next, the intermediate transfer unit 12 of the image forming apparatus main body in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 12 is configured to rise in the direction of arrow R2 by a link mechanism (not shown) when the front door 11 is closed, and move to a position during image formation (a position where the photosensitive drum 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 12a contact each other). Also, when the front door 11 is opened, the intermediate transfer unit 12 descends in the direction of arrow R1, and the photosensitive drum 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 12a are separated from each other. In other words, when the process cartridge 100 is set in the tray 171, the photosensitive drum 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 12a come into contact with each other and are separated from each other in response to the opening and closing operation of the front door 11.

[0050] In addition, the contact / separation operation is configured so that the intermediate transfer unit 12 rises and falls along a rotational path centered on the central point PV1 shown in Fig. 4. The intermediate transfer belt 12a is driven by a force from a gear (not shown) that is arranged coaxially with PVI. Therefore, by using the aforementioned position PV1 as the rotation center, the intermediate transfer unit 12 can be raised and lowered without moving the center of the gear. This eliminates the need to move the center of the gear, making it possible to maintain the position of the gear with high precision.

[0051] With the above configuration, when the process cartridge 100 is set in the tray 171 and the tray 11 is inserted and removed, the photosensitive drum 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 12a do not slide, preventing damage to the photosensitive drum 104 and image degradation due to the charging memory.

[0052] [Developing Separation Control Unit] Next, the separation mechanism of the image forming apparatus main body in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 11, and 12. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus M cut along the driving side end face of the process cartridge 100. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing separation control unit viewed obliquely from above. In the present embodiment, the developing separation control unit 195 controls the separation contact operation of the developing unit 109 with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 by engaging with a part of the developing unit 109. The developing separation control unit 195 is located below the image forming apparatus main body 170 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0053] Specifically, the developing separation control unit 195 is disposed vertically below (in the direction of arrow Z2) the developing coupling portion 132a and the drum coupling member 143.

[0054] Further, the developing separation control unit 195 is disposed in the longitudinal direction (Y1, Y2 directions) of the photosensitive drum 104 of the intermediate transfer belt 12. That is, the developing separation control unit 195R is disposed on the driving side and the developing separation control unit 195L is disposed on the non-driving side. By disposing the developing separation control unit 195 in the dead space of the image forming apparatus main body 170 as described above, the main body can be miniaturized.

[0055] The developing separation control unit 195R has four separation control members (force application members) 196R corresponding to the process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K). The four separation control members have substantially the same shape. The developing separation control unit 195R is always fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus. However, by a control mechanism (not shown), the separation control members 196R are configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions. The W41 and W42 directions are substantially parallel to the arrangement direction of the process cartridges 100 mounted on the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. The detailed configuration will be described later.

[0056] The developing separation control unit 195L has four separation control members (force application members) 196L corresponding to the process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K). The four separation control members have substantially the same shape. The developing separation control unit 195L is always fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus. However, by a control mechanism (not shown), the separation control members 196L are configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions. The detailed configuration will be described later.

[0057] In addition, in order for the developing separation control unit 195 to engage with a part of the developing unit 109 and control the separation contact operation of the developing unit 109, a part of the developing control unit 196 and a part of the developing unit 109 need to overlap in the vertical direction (Z1, Z2 directions). Therefore, after the process cartridge 100 is inserted in the X1 direction, in order to overlap in the vertical direction (Z1, Z2 directions) as described above, it is necessary to project a part of the developing unit (the moving member 152 in this embodiment) (details will be described later). Incidentally, when the developing separation control unit 195 itself is raised in the same manner as the intermediate transfer unit 12 described above in order to engage, there are problems such as an increase in the operating force of the interlocking front door 11 and complication of the drive train.

[0058] In this embodiment, one of the reasons for adopting the method of fixing the developing separation control unit 195 to the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus and protruding a part (moving member 152) of the developing unit 109 downward (Z2) inside the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus is to address this problem. Also, since the mechanism for protruding the moving member 152 utilizes the mechanisms of the aforementioned memory element pressing unit 190 and cartridge pressing unit 191 as they are, there is no such problem as described above and an increase in the cost of the apparatus main body can be suppressed.

[0059] Note that the entire developing separation control unit 195 is fixed to the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. However, a part of the developing separation control unit 195 is configured to be movable in order to impart an operation such that the developing unit 109 is in a separated state (separated position, retracted position) or a contact state (contact position) with respect to the photosensitive drum 104. Details will be described later.

[0060] [Overall Configuration of Process Cartridge] The configuration of the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 13, and 14. FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of the process cartridge 100 as viewed from the driving side, which is one end side in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 104. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 100 as viewed from the driving side.

[0061] In this embodiment, the first to fourth process cartridges 100 (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) may differ in the color of the toner they contain, the toner filling amount, and the control by the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. However, although there may be differences in dimensions and the like among these four process cartridges, their basic structures and functions are the same and they can exhibit the same functions. Therefore, hereinafter, one process cartridge 100 will be described as a representative.

[0062] The process cartridge 100 includes a photosensitive drum (photoconductor) 104 and process means that act on the photosensitive drum 104. Here, the process means includes a charging roller 105 as charging means (charging member) for charging the photosensitive drum 104, and a developing roller 106 as developing means (developing member) for attaching toner to the photosensitive drum 104 to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104. The developing roller 106 carries toner on its surface. Note that the process cartridge 100 may further include, as additional process means, a cleaning blade, a brush, or the like that contacts the photosensitive drum 104 as cleaning means (cleaning member) for removing residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 104. Further, as additional process means, the process cartridge 100 may include a light guide member such as a light guide or a lens, a light source, or the like for irradiating the photosensitive drum 104 with light as discharging means for discharging the surface of the photosensitive drum 104. And the process cartridge 100 is divided into a drum unit (first unit) 108 (108Y, 108M, 108C, 108K) and a developing unit (second unit) 109 (109Y, 109M, 109C, 109K).

[0063] [Configuration of Drum Unit] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, the drum unit 108 includes a photosensitive drum 104, a charging roller 105, a first drum frame body portion 115, and a drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and a non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 as a second drum frame body portion attached and fixed to the first drum frame body portion 115. The photosensitive drum 104 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis (rotation center) M1 by the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100. The first drum frame body portion 115, the drive-side cartridge cover member 116, and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 as the second drum frame body portion constitute a drum frame (first frame, or photosensitive member frame) that rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 104.

[0064] The driving-side cartridge cover member 116 and the non-driving-side cartridge cover member 117 will be described later. Also, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a coupling member 143 for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum 104 is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 104. As described above, the coupling member 143 engages with the main body-side drum driving coupling 180 (see FIG. 9) as the drum driving output part of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Then, the driving force of the driving motor (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 170 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 104 and rotated in the direction of arrow A. Further, the photosensitive drum 104 has a drum flange 142 at the other end side in the longitudinal direction. The charging roller 105 is supported by the drum frame 115 so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 104 and capable of being driven to rotate. Note that the rotation axis M1 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100 and the longitudinal direction of the drum unit 108.

[0065] [Configuration of Developing Unit] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, the developing unit 109 includes a developing roller 106, a toner conveying roller (developer supply member) 107, a developing blade 130, a developing container 125, and the like. The developing container 125 is composed of a lower frame body 125a and a lid member 125b. The lower frame body 125a and the lid member 125b are joined by ultrasonic welding or the like. The developing container 125, which is the second frame body, has a toner storage portion 129 for storing toner to be supplied to the developing roller 106. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 125, a driving-side bearing 126 and a non-driving-side bearing 127 are respectively attached and fixed. Then, the developing container 125 rotatably supports the developing roller 106, the toner conveying roller 107, and the stirring member 129a via the driving-side bearing 126 and the non-driving-side bearing 127, and holds the developing blade 130. In this way, the developing container 125, the driving-side bearing 126, and the non-driving-side bearing 127 constitute a developing frame body (second frame body) that rotatably supports the developing roller 106 about the rotation axis (rotation center) M2.

[0066] The stirring member 129a rotates to stir the toner in the toner storage portion 129. The toner conveyance roller (developer supply member) 107 contacts the developing roller 106, supplies toner to the surface of the developing roller 106, and also strips the toner from the surface of the developing roller 106. The developing blade 130 is formed by attaching an elastic member 130b, which is a sheet-like metal with a thickness of about 0.1 mm, to a support member 130a, which is a metal material having an L-shaped cross section, by welding or the like. The developing blade 130 regulates the layer thickness (thickness of the toner layer) of the toner on the circumferential surface of the developing roller 106 and forms a toner layer with a predetermined thickness between the elastic member 130b and the developing roller 106. The developing blade 130 is attached to the developing container 125 with fixing screws 130c at two locations on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction. The developing roller 106 is composed of a core metal 106c made of a metal material and a rubber portion 106d.

[0067] Also, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a developing coupling portion 132a for transmitting a driving force to the developing unit 109 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 109. The developing coupling portion 132a engages with a main body side developing drive coupling 185 (see FIG. 9) as a developing drive output portion of the image forming apparatus main body 170, and is a member that rotates by receiving the rotational driving force of a driving motor (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 170. The driving force received by the developing coupling portion 132a is transmitted by a driving train (not shown) provided in the developing unit 109, so that the developing roller 106 can be rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 3. A developing cover member 128 that supports and covers the developing coupling portion 132a and the driving train (not shown) is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 109. Note that the outer diameter of the developing roller 106 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the photosensitive drum 104. The outer diameter of the photosensitive drum 104 in this embodiment is set in the range of Φ18 to Φ22, and the outer diameter of the developing roller 106 is set in the range of Φ8 to Φ14. By setting the outer diameter in this way, an efficient arrangement becomes possible. The rotation axis M2 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100 and the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 109.

[0068] [Assembly of the Drum Unit and the Developing Unit] Using FIG. 13, the assembly of the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109 will be described. The drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109 are coupled by a drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and a non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 provided at both longitudinal ends of the process cartridge 100. A developing unit support hole 116a for swingably (movable) supporting the developing unit 109 is provided in the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 provided at one longitudinal end side of the process cartridge 100. Similarly, a developing unit support hole 117a for swingably supporting the developing unit 109 is provided in the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 provided at the other longitudinal end side of the process cartridge 100. Further, drum support holes 116b and 117b for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 104 are provided in the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117. Here, at one end side, the outer diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 128b of the developing cover member 128 is fitted into the developing unit support hole 116a of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116. At the other end side, the outer diameter portion of the cylindrical portion (not shown) of the non-drive-side bearing 127 is fitted into the developing unit support hole 117a of the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117. Further, both longitudinal ends of the photosensitive drum 104 are fitted into the drum support hole 116b of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and the drum support hole 117b of the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117. Then, the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 are fixed to the drum unit 108 with screws, adhesives, etc. (not shown). Thereby, the developing unit 109 is rotatably supported by the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117 with respect to the drum unit 108 (photosensitive drum 104). In such a configuration, the developing roller 106 can be positioned at a position that acts on the photosensitive drum 104 during image formation.

[0069] Through the above steps, the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109 are assembled, and FIG. 14 shows the state integrated as the process cartridge 100.

[0070] Note that the axis connecting the center of the developing unit support hole 116a of the driving-side cartridge cover member 116 and the center of the developing unit support hole 117a of the non-driving-side cartridge cover member 117 is referred to as the swing axis (rotation axis, center of rotation) K. Here, the cylindrical portion 128b of the developing cover member 128 on one end side is coaxial with the developing coupling portion 132a. That is, the rotation axis of the developing coupling portion 132a is coaxial with the swing axis K. That is, the swing axis K is also the rotation axis K of the developing coupling portion 132a. Further, the developing unit 109 is rotatably supported about the swing axis K. In a state where the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109 are assembled and integrated as the process cartridge 100, the rotation axis M1, the rotation axis M2, and the swing axis K are substantially parallel to each other. Also, in this state, the rotation axis M1, the rotation axis M2, and the swing axis K are each substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100.

[0071] [Configuration of the separation contact mechanism 150] The configuration in which the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 100 and the developing roller 106 of the developing unit 109 in this embodiment are separated and contacted will be described in detail. The process cartridge has a separation contact mechanism 150R on the driving side and a separation contact mechanism 150L on the non-driving side. FIG. 15 shows an assembled perspective view of the driving side of the developing unit 109 including the separation contact mechanism 150R. FIG. 16 shows an assembled perspective view of the non-driving side of the developing unit 109 including the separation contact mechanism 150L. Regarding the separation contact mechanism, first, the details of the separation contact mechanism 150R on the driving side will be described, and then the separation contact mechanism 150L on the non-driving side will be described. Since the separation contact mechanism has substantially the same function on the driving side and the non-driving side, the symbol R is attached to each member on the driving side. For the non-driving side, the symbols of each member are the same as those on the driving side, and L is attached.

[0072] The separation contact mechanism 150R includes a spacer 151R which is a regulating member (holding member), a moving member 152R which is a pressing member (force applying member), and a tension spring 153. The separation contact mechanism 150L includes a spacer 151L which is a regulating member, a moving member 152L which is a pressing member (force applying member), and a tension spring 153.

[0073] [Detailed description of the spacer 151R] Here, the spacer (holding member) 151R will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17(a) is a front view of the single-piece spacer 151R as seen from the driving-side longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100. FIGS. 17(b) and 17(c) are perspective views of the single-piece spacer 151R, and FIG. 17(d) is a view of the spacer 151R as seen in the direction of arrow Z2 in FIG. 17(a) (vertically upward direction in the image forming state). The spacer 151R has an annular supported portion 151Ra and a separation holding portion (holding portion) 151Rb that protrudes from the supported portion 151Ra in the radial direction of the supported portion 151Ra. The tip of the separation holding portion 151Rb has a contact surface (contact portion) 151Rc that is arc-shaped about the swing axis H of the spacer 151R and is inclined at an angle θ1 with respect to a line HA that is substantially parallel to the swing axis H. The angle θ1 is set to satisfy the formula (1). 0° ≦ θ1 ≦ 45° ··· (1)

[0074] The separation holding portion (holding portion) 151Rb is a portion that connects the supported portion 151Ra and the contact surface 151Rc, and has sufficient rigidity to hold the developing unit 109 at a separated position while being sandwiched between the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109.

[0075] Further, the spacer 151R has a regulated surface (regulated portion) 151Rk adjacent to the contact surface 151Rc. Furthermore, the spacer 151R has a regulated surface (regulated portion) 151Rd that protrudes in the Z2 direction from the supported portion 151Ra, and has an arc-shaped pressed surface (pressed portion during contact) 151Re that protrudes in the direction of the swing axis H of the supported portion 151Ra from the regulated surface 151Rd.

[0076] Furthermore, the spacer 151R has a main body portion 151Rf connected to the supported portion 151Ra, and the main body portion 151Rf has a spring - hanging portion 151Rg protruding in the direction of the swing axis H of the supported portion 151Ra. Further, the main body portion 151Rf has an anti - rotation portion 151Rm protruding in the Z2 direction, and an anti - rotation surface 151Rn is provided in a direction facing the pressed surface 151Re.

[0077] [Detailed description of the moving member 152R] Here, the moving member 152R will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18(a) is a front view of the single moving member 152R seen from the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100, and FIGS. 18(b) and 18(c) are perspective views of the single moving member 152R.

[0078] The moving member 152R has an oval - shaped oval supported portion 152Ra. Here, the longitudinal direction of the oval shape of the oval supported portion 152Ra is indicated by an arrow LH, the upper direction by an arrow LH1, and the lower direction by an arrow LH2. Further, the direction in which the oval supported portion 152Ra is formed is HB. The moving member 152R has a protruding portion (force receiving portion) 152Rh formed on the downstream side in the direction of the arrow LH2 of the oval supported portion 152Ra. The oval supported portion 152Ra and the protruding portion 152Rh are connected by a main body portion 152Rb. On the other hand, the moving member 152R has a pushed - in portion 152Re protruding in the direction of the arrow LH1 and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the arrow LH1, and has an arc - shaped pushed - in surface (moving - force receiving portion, operating - force receiving portion) 152Rf on the downstream side in the direction of the arrow LH1 and a pushing - in restricting surface 152Rg on the upstream side. Further, the moving member 152R has a first restricted surface (first restricted portion) 152Rv extending from the main body portion 152Rb on the upstream side in the direction of the arrow LH2 with respect to the protruding portion 152Rh. Also, the moving member 152R has a second restricted surface 152Rw adjacent to the first restricted surface 152Rv and substantially parallel to the developing frame pressing surface (developing frame pressing portion, second frame pressing portion) 152Rq.

[0079] The protruding portion 152Rh has a first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 152Rk and a second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 152Rn that are disposed at the terminal end in the direction of arrow LH2 and face a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of arrow LH2. The first force receiving portion 152Rk and the second force receiving portion 152Rn each have a first force receiving surface (retreat force receiving surface, separation force receiving surface) 152Rm and a second force receiving surface (contact force receiving surface) 152Rp that extend in the HB direction and have an arc shape. Further, the protruding portion 152Rh has a spring hanging portion 152Rs that protrudes in the H direction and a locking portion 152Rt, and the locking portion 152Rt has a locking surface 152Ru that faces the same direction as the second force receiving surface 152Rp.

[0080] Furthermore, the moving member 152R is a part of the main body portion 152Rb and is disposed upstream of the second force receiving portion 152Rn in the direction of arrow LH2, and has a developing frame pressing surface 152Rq that faces the same direction as the second force receiving surface 152Rp. Also, the moving member 152R has a spacer pressing surface (pressing portion) 152Rr that is orthogonal to the first regulated surface 152Rv and is disposed opposite to the developing frame pressing surface 152Rq.

[0081] Note that in a state where the process cartridge 100 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 170, the LH1 direction is substantially the same as the Z1 direction, and the LH2 direction is substantially the same as the Z2 direction. Also, the HB direction is substantially the same as the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100.

[0082] [Assembly of the separation contact mechanism 150R] Next, the assembly of the separation contact mechanism 150R will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 15 to 19. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 100 after assembling the spacer 151R, as viewed from the driving side.

[0083] As described above, as shown in FIG. 15, the developing unit 109 has an outer diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 128b of the developing cover member 128 fitted into the developing unit support hole portion 116a of the driving side cartridge cover member 116. Thereby, the developing unit 109 is rotatably supported with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 about the swing axis K. Further, the developing cover member 128 has a cylindrical first support portion 128c and a second support portion 128k that project in the direction of the swing axis K.

[0084] The outer diameter of the first support portion 128c fits into the inner diameter of the supported portion 151Ra of the spacer 151R and rotatably supports the spacer 151R. Here, the swing center of the spacer 151R assembled to the developing cover member 128 is defined as the swing axis H. The developing cover member 128 has a first retaining portion 128d that projects in the direction of the swing axis H. As shown in FIG. 15, the movement of the spacer 151R assembled to the developing cover member 128 in the direction of the swing axis H is restricted by the first retaining portion 128d coming into contact with the spacer 151R.

[0085] Further, the outer diameter of the second support portion 128k fits into the inner wall of the oval supported portion 152Ra of the moving member 152R and rotatably and movably supports the moving member 152R in the oval direction. Here, the swing center of the moving member 152R assembled to the developing cover member 128 is defined as the moving member swing axis HC. As shown in FIG. 15, the movement of the moving member 152R assembled to the developing cover member 128 in the direction of the moving member swing axis HC is restricted by the second retaining portion 128m coming into contact with the spacer 151R.

[0086] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 and a part of the developing cover member 128 are partially omitted by a partial cross-section line CS so that the fitting portion between the oval supported portion 151Ra of the moving member 152R and the cylindrical portion 128b of the developing cover member 128 can be seen. The separation contact mechanism 150R includes a spacer portion biasing portion (holding portion biasing portion) that biases the spacer 151R to rotate in the direction of arrow B1 in the figure about the swing axis H, and a force receiving portion biasing portion (protrusion biasing portion) that biases the moving member 152R in the direction of arrow B3. The tension spring 153 is provided as a biasing member (holding portion biasing member). The tension spring 153 is a coil spring and an elastic member. The direction of arrow B3 is substantially parallel to the oval longitudinal direction LH2 (see FIG. 18) of the oval supported portion 152Ra of the moving member 152R. The tension spring 153 is engaged and connected to a spring hanging portion 151Rg provided on the spacer 151R and a spring hanging portion 152Rs provided on the moving member 152R, and is assembled therebetween. The tension spring 153 applies a force in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 10 to the spring hanging portion 151Rg of the spacer 151R, thereby applying a biasing force for rotating the spacer 151R in the direction of arrow B1. Further, the tension spring 153 applies a force in the direction of arrow F1 to the spring hanging portion 152Rs of the moving member 152R, thereby applying a biasing force for moving the moving member 152R in the direction of arrow B3 (the direction toward the storage position (reference position, standby position)).

[0087] Note that a line GS connecting the spring hanging portion 151Rg of the spacer 151R and the spring hanging portion 152Rs of the force holding member 152R, and a line HS connecting the spring hanging portion 152Rs of the moving member 152R and the moving member swing axis HC are defined. The angle θ2 formed by the line GS and the line HS is set to satisfy the following formula (2) with the clockwise direction being positive about the spring hanging portion 152Rs of the moving member 152R. Thereby, the moving member 152R is biased to rotate in the direction of arrow BA about the moving member swing axis HC.

[0088] 0° ≦ θ2 ≦ 90° ··· (2) As shown in FIG. 15, the developing drive input gear (developing coupling member) 132 provided with the developing coupling portion 132a has the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 128b of the developing cover member 128 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 32b of the developing drive input gear 132, and in addition, the support portion 126a of the drive-side bearing 126 is fitted to a cylindrical portion (not shown) of the developing drive input gear 132. Thus, the developing drive input gear 132 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis K. A developing roller gear 131 is fixed to the drive-side end of the developing roller 106, and a toner conveyance roller gear 133 is fixed to the drive-side end of the toner conveyance roller (developer supply member) 107. The developing drive input gear (developing coupling member) 132 has a gear portion on its cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and this gear portion meshes with the developing roller gear 131, the toner conveyance roller gear 133, and other gears, and transmits the rotational driving force received by the developing coupling portion 132a to these gears.

[0089] In this embodiment, the arrangement of the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R in the direction of the swing axis K will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, in the direction of the swing axis K, the spacer 151R is arranged on the side (outer side in the longitudinal direction) where the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 is arranged with the developing cover member 128 interposed therebetween, and the moving member 152R is arranged on the side (inner side in the longitudinal direction) where the developing drive input gear 132 is arranged. However, the arrangement positions are not limited to this, and the arrangement positions of the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R may be interchanged, or the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R may be arranged on one side in the direction of the swing axis K with respect to the developing cover member 128 as a reference. Further, the arrangement order of the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R may be interchanged.

[0090] Then, the developing cover member 128 is fixed to the developing container 125 via the drive-side bearing 126 to form the developing unit 109. Note that the fixing method in this embodiment is fixed by fixing screws 145 and an adhesive (not shown) as shown in FIG. 15, but the fixing method is not limited to this, and a joining method such as welding by heating or pouring and solidifying resin may also be used.

[0091] Here, for the purpose of explanation, FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view in which the periphery of the separation holding portion 151R in FIG. 10 is enlarged, and a part of the tension spring 153 and the spacer 151R is partially omitted by the partial cross-sectional line CS4. The moving member 152R contacts the first regulating surface 128h of the developing cover member 128 by the biasing force in the F1 direction in the figure of the aforementioned tension spring 153. Further, the second regulated surface 152Rw of the moving member 152R contacts the second regulating surface 128q of the developing cover member 128 and is positioned. This position is referred to as the storage position of the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh. Note that the storage position can also be referred to as the reference position or the standby position. Further, the spacer 151R rotates in the B1 direction around the swing axis H by the biasing force in the F2 direction of the tension spring 153, and the regulated surface 151Rd of the spacer 151R contacts the spacer pressing surface 152Rr of the moving member 152R, and the rotation is stopped. This position is referred to as the separation holding position (regulation position, first position) of the spacer 151R.

[0092] Furthermore, FIG. 21 is a view in which the periphery of the separation holding portion 151R in FIG. 10 is enlarged for explanation, and the tension spring 153 is omitted. Here, consider the case where the process cartridge 100 having the separation contact mechanism 150R described in this embodiment is transported and dropped in the JA direction in FIG. 21. At this time, the spacer 151R receives a force to rotate in the arrow B2 direction by its own weight around the separation holding swing axis H. When it starts to rotate in the B2 direction for the above reason, the rotation prevention surface 151Rn of the spacer 151R contacts the locking surface 152Ru of the moving member 152R, and the spacer 151R receives a force in the F3 direction in the figure so as to suppress the rotation in the B2 direction. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the spacer 151R from rotating in the B2 direction during transportation, and it is possible to prevent the separated state between the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing unit 109 from being impaired.

[0093] In this embodiment, a tension spring 153 is cited as the biasing means for biasing the spacer 151R to the spaced-apart holding position and biasing the moving member 152R to the storage position. However, the biasing means is not limited to this. For example, a torsion coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like may be used as the biasing means to bias the moving member 152R to the storage position and bias the spacer 151R to the spaced-apart holding position. Further, the material of the biasing means may be any material such as metal or mold as long as it has elasticity and can bias the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R.

[0094] As described above, the developing unit 109 provided with the spaced-apart contact mechanism 150R is integrally coupled to the drum unit 108 by the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 as described above (in the state of FIG. 19).

[0095] A view seen from the direction of arrow J in FIG. 19 is shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 15, the drive-side cartridge cover 116 of this embodiment has a contact surface (contact portion) 116c. The contact surface 116c is formed with an inclination of an angle θ3 with respect to the swing axis K as shown in FIG. 22. Although it is desirable that the angle θ3 is the same angle as the angle θ1 forming the contact surface 151Rc of the spacer 151R described above, it is not limited to this. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 19, when the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 is assembled to the developing unit 109 and the drum unit 108, the contact surface 116c faces the contact surface 151Rc of the spacer 151R located at the spaced-apart holding position. The contact surface 116c contacts the contact surface 151Rc by the biasing force of a developing pressure spring 134 described later. When the engaging surface 116Rc and the contact surface 151Rc come into contact, the posture of the developing unit 109 is configured to be positioned in a state where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 of the developing unit 109 are separated by a gap P1. In this way, the state in which the developing roller 106 (developing member) is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 by the spacer 151R by the gap P1 is referred to as the separated position (retracted position) of the developing unit 109 (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0096] [Separation state and contact state (drive side) of the process cartridge 100] Here, the separated state and the contacting state of the process cartridge 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a side view seen from the driving side with the process cartridge 100 mounted inside the image forming apparatus main body 170. FIG. 1(a) shows a state where the developing unit 109 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104. FIG. 1(b) shows a state where the developing unit 109 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 104.

[0097] First, a state where the spacer 151R is located at the separation holding position (first position) and the developing unit 109 is located at the separation position (retracted position) will be described. In this state, the supported portion 151Ra, which is one end of the separation holding portion 151Rb, is in contact with the first support portion 128c of the developing cover member 128, and the contact portion 151Rc, which is the other end, is in contact with the contacted surface 116c of the driving side cartridge cover member 116. Further, due to the action of the developing pressure spring 134, the first support portion 128c is pressed toward the supported portion 151Ra, and the contact portion 151Rc is pressed toward the contacted surface 116c. Therefore, it can be said that in this state, the driving side cartridge cover member 116 positions and stably holds the developing cover member 128 via (pinches) the separation holding portion 151Rb of the spacer 151R. That is, it can be said that the drum unit 108 positions and stably holds the developing unit 109 via the spacer 151R.

[0098] From this state, the pressed portion 152Re of the moving member 152R is pushed in the ZA direction. As a result, the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh linearly move in the ZA direction (operating direction, predetermined direction) from the standby position and reach the protruding position. The ZA direction is a direction parallel to the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 106 or the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 108. Therefore, the protruding portion 152Rh at the protruding position is arranged downstream in the ZA direction from the protruding portion 152Rh at the standby position. For this reason, the protruding portion 152Rh at the protruding position is located farther from the swing axis K than the protruding portion 152Rh at the standby position. Further, the protruding portion 152Rh at the protruding position protrudes in the ZA direction (is arranged downstream in the ZA direction) from the drum frame body and the developing frame body. In the present embodiment, as described above, the drum frame body is the first drum frame body portion 115, the drive-side cartridge cover member 116, and the non-drive-side cartridge cover member 117, and the developing frame body is the developing container 125, the drive-side bearing 126, and the non-drive-side bearing 127. Note that the ZA direction is a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the four process cartridges 100, the W41 direction, and the W42 direction.

[0099] The posture shown in FIG. 1 can also be said to be a posture in which the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 104 is horizontal and the photosensitive drum 104 is arranged at the lower part in the process cartridge 100 when the vertical direction in the drawing is the vertical direction. In this posture, the protruding portion 152Rh can be said to protrude downward by protruding in the ZA direction.

[0100] Further, FIGS. 26 and 38 show the postures of the process cartridge 100 in a state of being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 170, and the vertical direction in the drawing is the vertical direction (Z1 direction, Z2 direction) when the image forming apparatus main body 170 is installed on a horizontal plane. The ZA direction vector in this posture is a vector including at least a vertical direction component. Therefore, also in this posture, the protruding portion 152Rh can be said to protrude downward by protruding in the ZA direction.

[0101] The moving member 152R is movable in the ZA direction and the reverse direction while maintaining the state in which the spacer 151R is in the separated holding position (first position). For this reason, even when the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh are in the operating position, the spacer 151R is located in the separated holding position (first position). Also, at this time, the pressed surface 151Re of the spacer 151R is in contact with the spacer pressing surface 152Rr of the moving member 152R by the tension spring 153 as described above. Therefore, when the second force receiving portion 152Rn is pressed in the direction of arrow W42, the moving member 152R rotates in the direction of arrow BB about the moving member swing axis HC, and the spacer pressing surface 152Rr presses the regulated portion 151Rd, thereby rotating the spacer 151R in the direction of arrow B2. When the spacer 151R rotates in the direction of arrow B2, the contact surface 151Rc separates from the surface to be contacted 116c, and the developing unit 109 becomes rotatable in the direction of arrow V2 about the swing axis K from the separated position. That is, the developing unit 109 rotates in the V2 direction from the separated position, and the developing roller 106 included in the developing unit 109 contacts the photosensitive drum 104. More specifically, the developing roller 106 includes a metal shaft (core metal), a rubber layer covering the periphery thereof, and a roller attached to the metal shaft at an end in the axial direction of the rubber layer, and the surfaces of the rubber layer and the roller contact the photosensitive drum 104. Since the rubber layer deforms, the distance between the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 106 and the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 104 can be accurately maintained by determining the distance between the rotation axis M2 and the rotation axis M1 by the roller.

[0102] Here, the position where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are in contact with each other in the developing unit 109 is referred to as the contact position (developing position) (the state shown in Fig. 1(b)). The contact position (developing position) where the developing roller 106 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 104 includes not only the position where the surface of the developing roller 106 contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 104, but also the position where the toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 106 can contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 104 when the developing roller 106 rotates. That is to say, the contact position can be said to be the developing position where the toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 106 can be transferred (adhered) to the surface of the photosensitive drum 104 when the developing roller 106 rotates. The position where the contact surface 151Rc of this spacer 151R is separated from the surface 116c to be contacted is referred to as the separation release position (permissible position, second position). When the developing unit 109 is located at the contact position, the regulating surface 151Rk of the spacer 151R contacts the spacer regulating surface (spacer portion regulating portion) 116d of the driving side cartridge cover 116. Thereby, the spacer 151R is restricted from moving to the separation holding position and is maintained at the separation release position.

[0103] Further, the drive-side bearing 126 has a first pressed surface (pressed portion at separation) 126c which is a surface orthogonal to the swing shaft K. The drive-side bearing 126 is fixed to the developing unit 109. Therefore, when the first force receiving portion 152Rk of the moving member 152R presses the developing unit 109 in the state of the contact position in the direction of arrow 41, the developing frame pressing surface 152Rq comes into contact with the first pressed surface 126c. As a result, the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V1 about the swing shaft K and moves to the separated position (retracted position) (the state in Fig. 1(a)). Here, when the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position to the separated position, the direction in which the first pressed surface 126c moves is indicated by arrow W41 in Figs. 1(a) and (b). Further, the direction opposite to arrow W41 is arrow W42, and arrow W41 and arrow W42 are in a substantially horizontal direction (X1, X2 directions). As described above, the second force receiving surface 152Rp of the moving member 152R assembled to the developing unit 109 is located upstream of the first force receiving surface 126c of the drive-side bearing 126 in the direction of arrow W41. Further, the first force receiving surface 126c and the pressed surface 151Re of the spacer 151R are arranged at positions where at least a part overlaps in the W1 and W2 directions. The detailed operation of the separation contact mechanism 150R in the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described next.

[0104] [Mounting of the Process Cartridge 100 to the Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 170 (Drive Side)] Next, with reference to Figs. 12, 23, and 24, the engagement operation between the separation contact mechanism 150R of the process cartridge 100 and the developing separation control unit 195 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described. Note that these figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 128 and a part of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 are partially omitted by partial cross-section lines CS1 and CS2, respectively, for the purpose of explanation.

[0105] FIG. 23 is a view seen from the drive side of the process cartridge 100 when the process cartridge 100 is mounted on a cartridge tray 171 (not shown) of the image forming apparatus M and the cartridge tray 171 is inserted into the first mounting position. In this figure, components other than the process cartridge 100, the cartridge pressing unit 191, and the separation control member 196R are omitted.

[0106] As described above, the image forming apparatus main body 170 of the present embodiment has a separation control member 196R corresponding to each process cartridge 100 as described above. The separation control member 196R is disposed on the lower surface side of the image forming apparatus main body 170 rather than the spacer 151R when the process cartridge 100 is located at the first inner position and the second inner position. The separation control member 196R protrudes toward the process cartridge 100 and has a first force application surface (force application portion, contact force application portion) 196Ra and a second force application surface (retreat force application portion, separation force application portion) 196Rb facing each other through a space 196Rd. The first force application surface 196Ra and the second force application surface 196Rb are connected via a connecting portion 196Rc on the lower surface side of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Further, the separation control member 196R is rotatably supported by a control sheet metal 197 about a rotation center 196Re. The separation member 196R is always biased in the E1 direction by a biasing spring. Further, since the control sheet metal 197 is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions by a control mechanism (not shown), the separation control member 196R is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions.

[0107] As described above, in conjunction with the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 shifting from the open state to the closed state, the cartridge pressing unit 191 descends in the direction of arrow ZA, and the first force applying portion 191a comes into contact with the pressed surface 152Rf of the moving member 152R. Thereafter, when the cartridge pressing unit 191 descends to a predetermined position which is the second mounting position, the protruding portion 152Rh of the moving member 152R moves in the ZA direction (operating direction, predetermined direction), and protrudes downward in the Z2 direction of the process cartridge 100 (the state shown in FIG. 24). The ZA direction intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 106, the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 108, and the swing axis HC. This position is referred to as the protruding position of the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh. Note that the protruding position can also be referred to as a force receiving position or an operating position. The protruding portion 152Rh protrudes from the developing frame body more when it is in the protruding position than when it is in the standby position. When this operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 24, a gap T4 is formed between the first force applying surface 196Ra of the separation control member 196R and the second force receiving surface 152Rp of the moving member 152R, and a gap T3 is formed between the second force applying surface 196Rb and the first force receiving surface 152Rm. Then, the separation control member 196R is positioned at the second mounting position where it does not act on the moving member 152R. Note that this position of the separation control member 196R can be said to be in the home position. At this time, the second force receiving surface 152Rp of the moving member 152R and the first force applying surface 196Ra of the separation control member 196R are arranged so that a part thereof overlaps in the W41 and W42 directions. Similarly, the first force receiving surface 152Rm of the moving member 152R and the second force applying surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R are arranged so that a part thereof overlaps in the W41 and W42 directions.

[0108] [Contact operation of developing unit (drive side)] Next, the operation in which the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing roller 106 come into contact with each other by the separation contact mechanism 150R will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 24 to 26. Note that these figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 128, a part of the drive side cartridge cover member 116, and a part of the drive side bearing 126 are partially omitted by partial cross-section lines CS1, CS2, and CS3, respectively, for the purpose of explanation.

[0109] In the configuration of this embodiment, the developing coupling 32 receives a driving force from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus in the direction of arrow V2 in FIG. 24, and the developing roller 106 rotates. That is, the developing unit 109 having the developing coupling 32 receives torque (driving torque) in the direction of arrow V2 about the swing axis K from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. The case where the developing unit 109 shown in FIG. 24 is in the separated position and the spacer 151R is in the separated holding position will be described. At this time, even if the developing unit 109 receives this driving torque and the biasing force by the developing pressure spring 134 described later, the contact surface 151Rc of the spacer 151R contacts the surface 116c to be contacted of the driving side cartridge cover member 116, and the posture of the developing unit 109 is maintained at the separated position.

[0110] The separation control member 196R of this embodiment is configured to be movable from the home position in the direction of arrow W42 in FIG. 24. When the separation control member 196R moves in the W42 direction, the second force application surface 196Ra of the separation control member 196R contacts the second force receiving surface 152Rp of the second force receiving portion 152Rn of the moving member 152R, and the moving member 152R rotates in the BB direction about the moving member swing axis HC. Note that the contact between the first force application surface 196Ra and the second force receiving surface 152Rp does not necessarily have to be surface contact, and line contact or point contact may be sufficient. In this way, the first force application surface 196Ra applies a contact force to the second force receiving surface 152Rp. The moving direction of the protruding portion 152Rh when the moving member 152R rotates in the BB direction is referred to as the first direction. Further, as the moving member 152R rotates in the BB direction, the spacer pressing surface 152Rr of the moving member 152R contacts the surface 151Re to be pressed of the spacer 151R while rotating the spacer 151R in the B2 direction. Then, the spacer 151R is rotated by the moving member 152R to the separation release position (second position) where the contact surface 151Rc and the surface 116c to be contacted are separated. Here, the position of the separation control member 196R that moves the spacer 151R to the separation release position (second position) shown in FIG. 25 is referred to as the first position.

[0111] In this way, when the spacer 151R is moved to the separation release position (second position) by the separation control member 196R, the developing unit 109 rotates in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and a developing pressure spring (biasing portion) 134 described later. Then, the developing unit 109 moves to the contact position where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 come into contact (the state shown in FIG. 25). At this time, the spacer 151R biased in the direction of arrow B1 by the tension spring 153 is maintained at the separation release position (second position) by the regulated surface 151Rk coming into contact with the spacer regulating surface 116d of the driving side cartridge cover member 116. Thereafter, the separation control member 196R moves in the W41 direction and returns to the home position. At this time, the moving member 152R rotates in the BA direction by the tension spring 153, and shifts to a state where the developing frame pressing surface 152Rq of the moving member 152R and the first pressing surface 126c of the driving side bearing 126 are in contact (the state shown in FIG. 26). At this time, it can be said that the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh are in the operating position.

[0112] As a result, the aforementioned gaps T3 and T4 are formed again, and the separation control member 196R is positioned at a position where it does not act on the moving member 152R. Note that the transition from the state shown in FIG. 25 to the state shown in FIG. 26 is performed without delay.

[0113] As described above, in the configuration of this embodiment, when the separation control member 196R moves from the home position to the first position, a contact force is applied to the moving member 152R, the moving member 152R is rotated, and the spacer 151R can be moved from the separation holding position (first position) to the separation release position (second position). As a result, the developing unit 109 can be moved from the separated position to the contact position where the developing roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 104 come into contact. That is, the contact force applied from the separation control member 196R is transmitted to the spacer 151R via the moving member 152R, and the spacer 151R is moved from the separation holding position (first position) to the separation release position (second position), thereby moving the developing unit 109 from the separated position (retracted position) to the contact position (developing position).

[0114] When the developing unit 109 is in the contact position (developing position), it is urged in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus and the developing pressure spring 134, and the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108 of the developing unit 109 is determined by the developing roller 106 coming into contact with the photosensitive drum 104. For this reason, the photosensitive drum 104 can be said to be a positioning portion (second positioning portion) that determines the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108 of the developing unit 109 in the developing position. Also, at this time, it can be said that the developing unit 109 is stably held by the drum unit 108. At this time, the spacer 151R in the separation release position is not directly involved in the positioning of the developing unit 109. However, the spacer 151R moves from the separation holding position to the separation release position so as not to prevent (permit) the developing roller 106 from coming into contact with the photosensitive drum 104 and determining the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108. That is, it can be said that the spacer 151R in the separation release position (second position) creates a situation where the drum unit 108 can stably hold the developing unit 109 in the contact position (developing position).

[0115] Note that when the spacer 151R is in the separation release position (second position), even if the developing roller 106 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 104, a configuration may be adopted in which the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108 is determined via the spacer 151R. In this case, for example, a surface different from the contact portion 151Rc of the spacer 151R may be brought into contact with the driving side cartridge cover member 116, and the driving side cartridge cover member 116 may position the developing cover member 128 via (pinching) the spacer 151R.

[0116] In addition, the position of the separation control member 196R in FIG. 26 is the same as that in the state of FIG. 24.

[0117] Also, when the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 transitions from the closed state to the open state in this state, the first force applying portion 191a rises in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA. Along with this, the moving member 152R moves in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA by the action of the biasing member 153. However, the spacer 151R remains at the separation release position, and the developing unit 109 also remains at the developing position.

[0118] [Separation operation of developing unit (drive side)] Next, the operation of the separation contact mechanism 150R to move the developing unit 109 from the contact position to the separation position will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. These figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 128, a part of the drive side cartridge cover member 116, and a part of the drive side bearing 126 are partially omitted by partial cross-section lines CS for the purpose of explanation.

[0119] As described above, in the state shown in FIG. 26, it can be said that the moving member 152R and the protruding portion 152Rh are in the operating positions. The separation control member 196R in this embodiment is configured to be movable from the home position in the direction of arrow W41 in FIG. 26. When the separation control member 196R moves in the W41 direction, the second force application surface 196Rb comes into contact with the first force receiving surface 152Rm of the first force receiving portion 152Rk of the moving member 152R, and the moving member 152R rotates in the direction of arrow BA about the moving member swing axis HC. Note that the contact between the second force application surface 196Rb and the first force receiving surface 152Rm does not necessarily have to be surface contact, and line contact or point contact may also be acceptable. In this way, the second force application surface 196Rb applies a separation force (retreat force) to the first force receiving surface 152Rm. The moving direction of the protruding portion 152Rh when the moving member 152R rotates in the BA direction is referred to as the second direction. Then, when the developing frame pressing surface 152Rq of the moving member 152R comes into contact with the first pressed surface 126c of the drive side bearing 126, the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V1 about the swing axis K from the contact position (the state in FIG. 27). At this time, although the pressed-in surface 152Rf of the moving member 152R has an arc shape, the center of this arc is arranged to coincide with the swing axis K. As a result, when the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position to the separation position, the force received by the pressed-in surface 152Rf of the moving member 152R from the cartridge pressing unit 191 is directed in the direction of the swing axis K. Therefore, it can be operated so as not to prevent the rotation of the developing unit 109 in the direction of arrow V1. The spacer 151R has its regulated surface 151Rk separated from the spacer regulating surface 116d of the drive side cartridge cover member 116, and the spacer 151R rotates in the direction of arrow B1 (the direction from the separation release position to the separation holding position) by the biasing force of the tension spring 153. As a result, the spacer 151R rotates until the pressed surface 151Re comes into contact with the spacer pressing surface 152Rr of the moving member 152R, and by coming into contact, it shifts to the separation holding position (the first position). When the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position in the direction of the separation position by the separation control member 196R and the spacer 151R is positioned at the separation holding position (the first position), a gap T5 is formed between the contact surface 151Rc and the contacted surface 116c as shown in FIG. 27.Here, the position where the developing unit 109 shown in FIG. 27 is rotated in the direction from the contact position to the separated position and the spacer 151R can move to the separated holding position is referred to as the second position of the separation control member 196R.

[0120] Then, the separation control member 196R moves in the direction of arrow W42 and returns from the second position to the home position. Then, the spacer 151R remains in the separated holding position, and the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V2 by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the developing pressure spring 134 described later, and the contact surface 151Rc and the surface to be contacted 116c come into contact. That is, the developing unit 109 is in a state of being maintained at the separated position by the spacer 151R, and the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are separated by a gap P1 (the state of FIGS. 24 and 1(a)). That is, the movement of the developing unit 109 toward the contact position against the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the biasing force in the direction of arrow V2 due to the biasing of the developing pressure spring 134 is restricted by the spacer 151R, and the developing unit 109 is maintained at the separated position. At this time, it can be said that the developing unit 109 is stably held at the separated position (retracted position) by the drum unit 108. As a result, the aforementioned gaps T3 and T4 are formed again, and the separation control member 196R is located at a position where it does not act on the moving member 152R (the state of FIG. 24). Note that the transition from the state of FIG. 27 to the state of FIG. 24 is executed without delay.

[0121] As described above, in the present embodiment configuration, when the separation control member 196R moves from the home position to the second position, the spacer 151R moves from the separation release position to the separation holding position. Then, when the separation control member 196R returns from the second position to the home position, the developing unit 109 is maintained at the separated position by the spacer 151R. In this way, the separation force applied from the separation control member 196R is transmitted to the first pressed surface 126c of the drive-side bearing (a part of the developing frame) 126 via the moving member 152R, thereby moving the developing unit 109 from the contact position to the separated position (retracted position) and moving the spacer 151R from the separation release position to the separation holding position.

[0122] In a state where the developing unit 109 is in the separated position (retracted position), the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108 is biased in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the developing pressure spring 134. As described above, the supported portion 151Ra contacts the first support portion 128c, and the contact portion 151Rc contacts the surface to be contacted 116c, thereby determining the position. Therefore, the surface to be contacted 116c can be said to be a positioning portion (first positioning portion) that positions the developing unit 109 in the separated position (retracted position). And at this time, it can be said that the developing unit 109 is stably held by the drum unit 108. Also, it can be said that the spacer 151R in the separated holding position (first position) creates a situation where the drum unit 108 can stably hold the developing unit 109 in the separated position (retracted position).

[0123] Further, when the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 shifts from the closed state to the open state in this state, the first force applying portion 191a rises in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA direction. Along with this, the moving member 152R moves in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA direction by the action of the biasing member 153. However, the spacer 151R remains in the separated holding position, and the developing unit 109 also remains in the separated position.

[0124] [Detailed Explanation of Spacer L] Here, the spacer 151L will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 28. FIG. 28(a) is a front view of the spacer 151L as a single unit viewed from the driving side longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100, and FIGS. 28(b) and 28(c) are perspective views of the spacer 151L as a single unit. The spacer 151L has an annular supported portion 151La, and has a separated holding portion (holding portion) 151Lb that protrudes in the radial direction of the supported portion 151La from the supported portion 151La. The tip of the separated holding portion 151Lb has an arc-shaped contact surface (contact portion) 151Lc centered on the swing axis H of the spacer 151L. Note that the swing axis H of the spacer 151L is the same as the swing axis H of the spacer 151R.

[0125] The separation holding part (holding part) 151Lb is a part that connects the supported part 151La and the contact surface 151Lc, and has such rigidity that the developing unit 109 can maintain the separated position while being sandwiched between the drum unit 108 and the developing unit 109.

[0126] Further, the spacer 151L has a regulated surface (regulated part) 151Lk adjacent to the contact surface 151Lc. Furthermore, the spacer 151L has a regulated part 151Ld protruding in the Z2 direction from the supported part 151La, and has an arc-shaped pressed part (pressed part at the time of contact) 151Le protruding in the direction of the swing axis H of the supported part 151La from the regulated part 151Ld.

[0127] Furthermore, the spacer 151L has a main body part 151Lf connected to the supported part 151La, and the main body part 151Lf has a spring hanging part 151Lg protruding in the direction of the swing axis H of the supported part 151La. Also, the main body part 151Lf has an anti-rotation part 151m protruding in the Z2 direction, and an anti-rotation surface 151Ln is provided in a direction facing the pressed part 151Le.

[0128] [Detailed description of the moving member L] Here, the moving member 152L will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 29. FIG. 29(a) is a front view of the single moving member 152L seen from the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100, and FIGS. 29(b) and 29(c) are perspective views of the single moving member 152L.

[0129] The moving member 152L has an oblong-shaped supported portion 152La. Here, the longitudinal direction of the oblong shape of the oblong supported portion 152La is indicated by arrow LH, the upward direction by arrow LH1, and the downward direction by arrow LH2. Further, the direction in which the oblong supported portion 152La is formed is HD. The moving member 152L has a protruding portion (force receiving portion) 152Lh formed on the downstream side in the direction of arrow LH2 of the oblong supported portion 152La. Note that the oblong supported portion 152La and the protruding portion 152Lh are connected by a main body portion 152Lb. On the other hand, the moving member 152L has a pushed-in portion 152Le that protrudes in the direction of arrow LH1 and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrow LH1, and has an arc-shaped pushed-in surface (moving force receiving portion, operating force receiving portion) 152Lf on the downstream side in the direction of arrow LH1 and a pushing restriction surface 152Lg on the upstream side. Further, the moving member 152L has a first restricted surface (first restricted portion) 152Lv that is a part of the oblong supported portion 152La and is located on the downstream side in the direction of arrow LH2.

[0130] The protruding portion 152Lh has a first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 152Lk and a second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 152Ln that are arranged to face each other at the end portion in the direction of arrow LH2 and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of arrow LH2. The first force receiving portion 152Lk and the second force receiving portion 152Ln each have a first force receiving surface (retreat force receiving surface, separation force receiving surface) 152Lm and a second force receiving surface (contact force receiving surface) 152Lp that extend in the HD direction and have an arc shape. Further, the protruding portion 152Lh has a spring hanging portion 152Ls and a locking portion 152Lt that protrude in the HB direction, and the locking portion 152Lt has a locking surface 152Lu that faces the same direction as the second force receiving surface 152Lp.

[0131] Further, the moving member 152L is a part of the main body portion 152Lb and is arranged on the upstream side in the direction of arrow LH2 with respect to the second force receiving portion 152Ln, and has a developing frame pressing surface (developing frame pressing portion, pressing portion at the time of separation) 152Lq that faces the same direction as the second force receiving surface 152Lp. Also, the moving member 152L is a part of the main body portion 152Lb and is arranged on the upstream side in the direction of arrow LH2 with respect to the first force receiving portion 152Lk, and has a spacer pressing surface (spacer portion pressing portion, pressing portion at the time of contact) 152Lr that faces the same direction as the first force receiving surface 152Lm.

[0132] Further, when the process cartridge 100 is mounted on the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus, the LH1 direction is substantially the same as the Z1 direction, and the LH2 direction is substantially the same as the Z2 direction. Also, the HB direction is substantially the same as the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 100.

[0133] [Assembly of the Separation Contact Mechanism 150L] Next, the assembly of the separation mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 29 to 35. FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 100 after the spacer 151L is assembled, as viewed from the driving side. As described above, as shown in FIG. 16, the developing unit 109 is rotatably supported with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 about the swing axis K by fitting the outer diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 127a into the developing unit support hole portion 117a. Further, the non-driving side bearing 127 has a cylindrical first support portion 127b and a second support portion 127e that project in the direction of the swing axis K.

[0134] The outer diameter of the first support portion 127b fits into the inner diameter of the supported portion 151La of the spacer 151L, and supports the spacer 151L rotatably. Here, the swing center of the spacer 151L assembled to the non-driving side bearing 127 is the swing axis H. The non-driving side bearing 127 has a first retaining portion 127c that projects in the direction of the swing axis H. As shown in FIG. 16, the movement of the spacer 151L assembled to the non-driving side bearing 127 in the direction of the swing axis H is restricted by the first retaining portion 127c coming into contact with the spacer 151L.

[0135] Also, the outer diameter of the second support portion 127e fits into the inner wall of the oval supported portion 152La of the moving member 152L, and supports the moving member 152L rotatably and movably in the oval direction. Here, the swing center of the moving member 152L assembled to the non-driving side bearing 127 is defined as the moving member swing axis HC. As shown in FIG. 16, the movement of the moving member 152L assembled to the non-driving side bearing 127 in the direction of the moving member swing axis HE is restricted by the second retaining portion 127f coming into contact with the spacer 151L.

[0136] FIG. 31 is a view of the process cartridge 100 after the spacer 151L is assembled, as seen in the direction of the developing unit swing axis H. It is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 is partially omitted by the partial cross-section line CS so that the fitting portion between the oval supported portion 151La of the moving member 152L and the cylindrical portion 127e of the non-driven side bearing 127 can be seen. Here, the separation contact mechanism 150L includes a spacer portion biasing portion (holding portion biasing portion) that biases the spacer 151L to rotate in the direction of arrow B1 about the swing axis H, and a force receiving portion biasing portion (protrusion biasing portion) that biases the moving member 152L in the direction of arrow B3. The tension spring 153 is provided as a biasing member (holding portion biasing member). The tension spring 153 is a coil spring and an elastic member. The direction of arrow B3 is substantially parallel to the oval longitudinal direction LH2 (see FIG. 29) of the oval supported portion 152La of the moving member 152L. The tension spring 153 is engaged and connected to a spring hanging portion 151Lg provided on the spacer 151L and a spring hanging portion 152Ls provided on the moving member 152L, and is assembled therebetween. The tension spring 153 applies a force in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 31 to the spring hanging portion 151Lg of the spacer 151L, thereby applying a biasing force for rotating the spacer 151L in the direction of arrow B1. Further, the tension spring 153 applies a force in the direction of arrow F1 to the spring hanging portion 152Ls of the moving member 152L, thereby applying a biasing force for moving the moving member 152L in the direction of arrow B3 (the direction toward the storage position (reference position, standby position)).

[0137] Let the line GS connect the spring hanging portion 151Lg of the spacer 151L and the spring hanging portion 152Ls of the force holding member 152L, and the line HS connect the spring hanging portion 152Ls of the moving member 152L and the moving member swing axis HE. Then, the angle θ3 formed by the line GS and the line HS is set to satisfy the following formula (3) with the counterclockwise direction being positive about the spring hanging portion 152Ls of the moving member 152L. Thereby, the moving member 152L is biased to rotate in the direction BA in the figure about the moving member swing axis HE as the rotation center.

[0138] 0°≦θ3≦90° ···(3) As shown in Fig. 29, the mounting positions of the spacer 151L and the moving member 152L are arranged such that the spacer 151L and the moving member 152L are on the side (outer side in the longitudinal direction) where the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 of the non-driven side bearing 127 is arranged in the direction of the swing axis K. However, the positions to be arranged are not limited to this, and they may be arranged on the developing container 125 side (inner side in the longitudinal direction) of the non-driven side bearing 127, or the spacer 151L and the moving member 152L may be arranged with the non-driven side bearing 127 interposed therebetween. Further, the arrangement order of the spacer 151L and the moving member 152L may be interchanged.

[0139] The non-driven side bearing 127 forms the developing unit 109 by being fixed to the developing container 125. In this embodiment, the fixing method is fixed by fixing screws 145 and an adhesive (not shown) as shown in Fig. 16, but the fixing method is not limited to this, and bonding methods such as welding by heating or pouring and solidifying resin may also be used.

[0140] Here, FIGS. 32(a) and (b) are cross-sectional views showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the moving member swing axis HE of the moving member 152L and the vicinity of the separation holding portion 151L in FIG. 31 for the purpose of explanation. Further, FIGS. 32(a) and (b) are cross-sectional views in which a part of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117, the tension spring 153, and a part of the spacer 151L are partially omitted by the partial cross-sectional line CS. The moving member 152L is brought into contact with the second support portion 127e of the non-driving side bearing 127 by the biasing force in the direction of arrow F1 of the above-described tension spring 153, with the first regulated surface 152Lv of the moving member 152L. Further, as shown in FIG. 32(b), the developing frame pressing surface 152Lq of the moving member 152L is brought into contact with the pressed surface 127h of the non-driving side bearing 127 and is positioned. This position is referred to as the storage position of the moving member 152L. Note that the storage position can also be referred to as the reference position or the standby position. Further, the spacer 151L is rotated in the direction of arrow B4 around the swing axis H by the biasing force in the direction of arrow F2 of the tension spring 153, and is positioned by the contact of the contact surface 151Lp of the spacer 151L with the spacer pressing surface 152Lr of the moving member 152L. This position is referred to as the separation holding position (regulation position) of the spacer 151L. Note that when the moving member 152L moves to the protruding position described later, the pressed portion 151Le of the spacer 151L can be brought into contact with the spacer pressing surface 152Lr of the moving member 152L to be positioned at the separation holding position.

[0141] Furthermore, FIG. 33 is a view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the separation holding portion 151L in FIG. 31 for the purpose of explanation, with the tension spring 153 omitted. Here, consider the case where the process cartridge 100 having the separation contact mechanism 150L is conveyed and dropped in the direction of arrow JA in FIG. 33. At this time, the spacer 151L receives a force to rotate in the direction of arrow B2 by its own weight around the separation holding swing axis H. When starting to rotate in the direction of arrow B2 for the above reason, the rotation prevention surface 151Ln of the spacer 151L abuts against the locking surface 152Lu of the moving member 152L, and the spacer 151L receives a force in the direction of arrow F4 so as to suppress the rotation in the direction of arrow B2. As a result, it is possible to suppress the rotation of the spacer 151L in the direction of arrow B2 during conveyance, and it is possible to prevent the separated state between the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing unit 109 from being impaired.

[0142] In this embodiment, the tension spring 153 is cited as the biasing means for biasing the spacer 151L to the separated holding position and biasing the moving member 152L to the storage position. However, the biasing means is not limited to this. For example, a torsion coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like may be used as the biasing means to bias the moving member 152L to the storage position and bias the spacer 151L to the separated holding position. Further, the material of the biasing means may be any material such as metal or mold as long as it has elasticity and can bias the spacer 151L and the moving member 152L.

[0143] As described above, the developing unit 109 provided with the separation contact mechanism 150L is integrally coupled to the drum unit 108 by the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 as described above (in the state of FIG. 30). As shown in FIG. 16, the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 of the present embodiment has a surface to be contacted (contact portion) 117c. The surface to be contacted 117c is a surface substantially parallel to the swing axis K. Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 30, when the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 is assembled to the developing unit 109 and the drum unit 108, the surface to be contacted 117c faces the contact surface 151Lc of the spacer 151L located at the separation holding position. Here, the process cartridge 100 has a developing pressure spring 134 as a developing unit biasing member (second unit biasing member) for biasing the developing unit 109 from the separated position toward the contacting position and bringing the developing roller 106 into contact with the photosensitive drum 104. The developing pressure spring 134 is a coil spring assembled between the spring hanging portion 117e of the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 and the spring hanging portion 127k of the non-driven side bearing 127, and is an elastic member. Due to the biasing force of the developing pressure spring 134, the contact surface 151Lc of the spacer 151L contacts the surface to be contacted 117c of the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117. Then, when the surface to be contacted 117cc and the contact surface 151Lc come into contact, the posture of the developing unit 109 is configured to be positioned in a state where the developing roller 106 of the developing unit 109 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 by a gap P1. In this way, the state in which the developing roller 106 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 by the gap P1 by the spacer 151L is referred to as the separated position (retracted position) of the developing unit 109 (see FIG. 35(a)).

[0144] [Separation state and contact state of the process cartridge 100 (non-driven side)] Here, the separation state and the contact state of the process cartridge 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 34. FIG. 34 is a side view seen from the non-driven side in a state where the process cartridge 100 is mounted inside the image forming apparatus main body 170. FIG. 34(a) shows a state where the developing unit 109 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104. FIG. 34(b) shows a state where the developing unit 109 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 104.

[0145] First, a state where the spacer 151L is located at the separation holding position (first position) and the developing unit 109 is located at the separation position (retracted position) will be described. In this state, the supported portion 151La, which is one end of the separation holding portion 151Lb, is in contact with the first support portion 127b of the non-driving side bearing 127, and the abutting portion 151Lc, which is the other end, is in contact with the abutted surface 117c of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117. Further, due to the action of the developing pressure spring 134, the first support portion 127b is pressed toward the supported portion 151La, and the abutting portion 151Lc is pressed toward the abutted surface 117c. Therefore, this state can be said to be a state where the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117 (which constitutes a part of the drum unit 108) positions and stably holds the non-driving side bearing 127 (which constitutes a part of the developing unit 109) via the separation holding portion 151Lb of the spacer 151L.

[0146] From this state, the pushed-in portion 152Le of the moving member 152L is pushed in the direction of arrow ZA. As a result, the moving member 152L and the protruding portion 152Lh linearly move from the standby position in the ZA direction (operating direction) and reach the protruding position. The ZA direction is a direction that intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 106, the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 108, and the swing axis HE. Therefore, the protruding portion 152Lh at the protruding position is arranged downstream in the ZA direction from the protruding portion 152Lh at the standby position. For this reason, the protruding portion 152Lh at the protruding position is located farther from the swing axis K than the protruding portion 152Lh at the standby position. Further, the protruding portion 152Lh at the protruding position protrudes in the ZA direction (is arranged downstream in the ZA direction) from the drum frame body and the developing frame body. In this embodiment, the drum frame body is the first drum frame body portion 115, the driving side cartridge cover member 116, and the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117, and the developing frame body is the developing container 125, the driving side bearing 126, and the non-driving side bearing 127. Note that the protruding position can also be referred to as a force receiving position or an operating position.

[0147] The moving member 152L is movable in the ZA direction and the reverse direction while maintaining the state where the spacer 151L is in the separated holding position (first position). Therefore, even when the moving member 152L and the protruding portion 152Lh are in the operating position, the spacer 151L is located in the separated holding position (first position). The pressed portion 151Le of the spacer 151L is in contact with the spacer pressing surface 152Lr of the moving member 152L by the tension spring 153 as described above. Therefore, when the second force receiving portion 152Ln (second force receiving surface 152Lp) is pressed in the direction of arrow W42, the moving member 152L rotates in the direction of arrow BD about the moving member swing axis HE, and the spacer pressing surface 152Lr presses the pressed portion 151Le, thereby rotating the spacer 151L in the direction of arrow B5. When the spacer 151L rotates in the direction of arrow B5, the contact surface 151Lc separates from the surface to be contacted 117c, and the developing unit 109 becomes rotatable about the swing axis K in the direction of arrow V2 from the separated position. That is, the developing unit 109 rotates in the V2 direction from the separated position, and the developing roller 106 included in the developing unit 109 contacts the photosensitive drum 104. Here, the position of the developing unit 109 where the developing roller 106 contacts the photosensitive drum 104 is referred to as the contact position (developing position) (the state of FIG. 34(b)). The position where the contact surface 151Lc of this spacer 151L separates from the surface to be contacted 117c is referred to as the separation release position (permissible position, second position). When the developing unit 109 is located at the contact position, the regulating surface 151Lk of the spacer 151L contacts the spacer regulating surface (spacer portion regulating portion) 117d of the drive side cartridge cover 116, so that the spacer 151L is maintained at the separation release position.

[0148] Further, the non-driven side bearing 127 of the present embodiment has a pressed surface (pressed portion at the separated position) 127h which is a surface orthogonal to the swing axis K. The non-driven side bearing 127 is fixed to the developing unit 109. Therefore, when the first force receiving portion 152Lk (first force receiving surface 152Lm) of the moving member 152L is pressed in the direction of arrow 41 with the developing unit 109 in the contact position, the developing frame pressing surface 152Lq comes into contact with the pressed surface 127h. As a result, the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V1 about the swing axis K and moves to the separated position (the state in FIG. 34(a)). Here, when the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position to the separated position, the direction in which the pressed surface 127h moves is indicated by arrow W41 in FIGS. 34(a) and (b). Also, the direction opposite to arrow W41 is arrow W42, and arrows W41 and W42 are in substantially the horizontal direction (X1, X2 directions). As described above, the second force receiving surface 152Lp of the moving member 152L assembled to the developing unit 109 is located upstream of the pressed surface 127h of the non-driven side bearing 127 in the direction of arrow W41. Further, the pressed surface 127h and the pressed portion 151Le of the spacer 151L are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the W1 and W2 directions. The operation of the separation contact mechanism 150L in the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described next.

[0149] [Mounting (non-driven side) of the process cartridge 100 to the image forming apparatus main body 170] Next, with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36, the engagement operation between the separation contact mechanism 150L of the process cartridge 100 and the developing separation control unit 196L of the image forming apparatus main body 170 when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described. Note that these figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 128 and a part of the non-driven side cartridge cover member 117 are partially omitted by partial cross-section lines CS for the purpose of explanation. FIG. 35 is a view of the process cartridge 100 as seen from the driving side when the process cartridge 100 is mounted on a cartridge tray 171 (not shown) of the image forming apparatus M and the cartridge tray 171 is inserted into the first mounting position. In FIG. 35, the process cartridge 100, the cartridge pressing unit 190, and the separation control member 196L other than these are omitted.

[0150] As described above, the image forming apparatus main body 170 of the present embodiment has the separation control member 196L corresponding to each process cartridge 100 as described above. When the process cartridge 100 is located at the first inner position and the second inner position, the separation control member 196L is disposed on the lower surface side of the image forming apparatus main body 170 rather than the spacer 151L. The separation control member 196L protrudes toward the process cartridge 100 and has a first force application surface (force application portion) 196La and a second force application surface (retreat force application portion) 196Lb facing each other via the space 196Rd. The first force application surface 196Ra and the second force application surface 196Rb are connected via a connecting portion 196Rc on the lower surface side of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Further, the separation control member 196R is rotatably supported by the control sheet metal 197 around the rotation center 196Re. The separation member 196R is always biased in the E1 direction by a biasing spring. Further, since the control sheet metal 197 is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions by a control mechanism (not shown), the separation control member 196R is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions.

[0151] As described above, in conjunction with the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 shifting from the open state to the closed state, the cartridge pressing unit 190 descends in the direction of arrow ZA, and the first force applying portion 190a comes into contact with the pressed surface 152Lf of the moving member 152L. After that, when the cartridge pressing unit 190 descends to a predetermined position which is the second mounting position, the protruding portion 152Lh of the moving member 152L moves to a protruding position where it protrudes downward in the Z2 direction of the process cartridge 100 (the state shown in FIG. 36). When this operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 36, a gap T4 is formed between the first force applying surface 196La of the separation control member 196L and the second force receiving surface 152Lp of the moving member 152L, and a gap T3 is formed between the second force applying surface 196Lb and the first force receiving surface 152Lm. Then, it is positioned at the second mounting position where the separation control member 196L does not act on the moving member 152L. Note that this position of the separation control member 196L is referred to as the home position. At this time, the second force receiving surface 152Lp of the moving member 152L and the first force applying surface 196La of the separation control member 196L are arranged so that a part thereof overlaps in the W1 and W2 directions. Similarly, the first force receiving surface 152Lm of the moving member 152L and the second force applying surface 196Lb of the separation control member 196L are arranged so that a part thereof overlaps in the W1 and W2 directions.

[0152] [Contact operation of the developing unit (non - driving side)] Next, the operation in which the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing roller 106 come into contact with each other by the separation contact mechanism 150L will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 36 to 38. Note that these figures are cross - sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 128, a part of the non - driving side cartridge cover member 117, and a part of the non - driving side bearing 127 are partially omitted by the partial cross - section line CS for the purpose of explanation.

[0153] As described above, the developing coupling 32 receives a driving force from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus in the direction of arrow V2 in FIG. 24, and the developing roller 106 rotates. That is, the developing unit 109 having the developing coupling 32 receives a driving torque in the direction of arrow V2 from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus about the swing axis K. Further, the developing unit 109 also receives a biasing force in the direction of arrow V2 by the biasing force of the above-described developing pressure spring 134. A state where the developing unit 109 is in the separated position and the spacer 151L is in the separated holding position (first position) as shown in FIG. 36 will be described. In this state, even if the developing unit 109 receives this driving torque and the biasing force by the developing pressure spring 134, the contact surface 151Lc of the spacer 151L contacts the surface 117c to be contacted of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117. For this reason, the posture of the developing unit 109 is maintained at the separated position.

[0154] The separation control member 196L of the present embodiment is configured to be movable from the home position in the direction of arrow W41 in FIG. 36. When the separation control member 196L moves in the direction of W41, the first force applying surface 196La of the separation control member 196L contacts the second force receiving surface 152Lp of the second force receiving portion 152Ln of the moving member 152L, and the moving member 152L rotates in the direction of BD about the moving member swing axis HD. Note that the contact between the first force applying surface 196La and the second force receiving surface 152Lp does not necessarily have to be surface contact, and line contact or point contact may be sufficient. In this way, the first force applying surface 196La applies a contact force to the second force receiving surface 152Lp by the movement in the direction of W41. The moving direction of the protruding portion 152Lh when the moving member 152L rotates in the direction of BD is referred to as the first direction. Further, as the moving member 152L rotates, the spacer pressing surface 152Lr of the moving member 152L contacts the portion 151Le to be pressed of the spacer 151L while rotating the spacer 151L in the direction of B5. Then, the spacer 151L is rotated by the moving member 152L to the separation release position (second position) where the contact surface 151Lc and the surface 117c to be contacted are separated. Here, the position of the separation control member 196L that moves the spacer 151L to the separation release position (second position) shown in FIG. 37 is referred to as the first position.

[0155] When the spacer 151L is moved to the separation release position by the separation control member 196L in this way, the developing unit 109 rotates in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the biasing force of the developing pressure spring 134. As a result, the developing unit 109 moves to the contact position where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 come into contact (the state shown in FIG. 37). At this time, the spacer 151L biased in the direction of arrow B4 by the tension spring 153 is maintained at the separation release position (the second position) when the regulated surface 151Lk comes into contact with the spacer regulating surface 117d of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117. Thereafter, the separation control member 196L moves in the W42 direction and returns to the home position. At this time, the moving member 152L rotates in the BC direction by the tension spring 153, and shifts to a state where the developing frame pressing surface 152Lq of the moving member 152L and the pressed surface 127h of the non-driving side bearing 127 are in contact (the state shown in FIG. 38). At this time, it can be said that the moving member 152L and the protruding portion 152Lh are in the operating position.

[0156] As a result, the aforementioned gaps T3 and T4 are formed again, and the separation control member 196L is positioned at a position where it does not act on the moving member 152L. Note that the transition from the state shown in FIG. 37 to the state shown in FIG. 38 is performed without delay. Note that the position of the separation control member 196L in FIG. 38 is the same as that in the state shown in FIG. 36.

[0157] Also, in the above description, it is assumed that the second force receiving surface 152Lp is given the contact force from the first force applying surface 196La. Regarding this, the contact force is the force applied from the first force applying surface 196La that moves in the W41 direction, and is the force applied to the process cartridge 100 in order to move it in the direction (contact direction, proximity direction, or V2 direction) of bringing the developing roller 106 closer to and into contact with the photosensitive drum 104. Therefore, as long as the developing unit 109 is configured to move from the retracted position toward the developing position triggered by receiving the contact force, it is not necessary for the process cartridge 100 to continuously receive the contact force until the developing unit 109 reaches the developing position. Also, as described above, when the developing unit 109 moves from the retracted position to the developing position upon receiving the contact force, it is not necessarily required for the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 to be in contact at the developing position.

[0158] As described above, in the configuration of this embodiment, when the separation control member 196L moves from the home position to the first position, it applies a contact force to the moving member 152L, rotates the moving member 152L, and can move the spacer 151L from the separation holding position (first position) to the separation release position (second position). As a result, the developing unit 109 can move from the separated position to the contact position where the developing roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 104 are in contact. That is, it can be said that the contact force applied from the separation control member 196L is transmitted to the spacer 151L via the moving member 152L, thereby moving the developing unit 109 from the separated position (retracted position) to the contact position (developing position).

[0159] With the developing unit 109 in the contact position (developing position), the position of the developing unit 109 relative to the drum unit 108 is biased in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the developing pressure spring 134, and is determined by the contact of the developing roller 106 with the photosensitive drum 104. Therefore, it can be said that the photosensitive drum 104 is a positioning portion (second positioning portion) that positions the developing roller 6 of the developing unit 109 in the developing position. And at this time, it can be said that the developing unit 109 is stably held by the drum unit 108. At this time, the spacer 151L in the separation release position is not directly involved in the positioning of the developing unit 109. However, it can be said that the spacer 151L creates a situation in which the drum unit 108 can stably hold the developing unit 109 in the contact position (developing position) by moving from the separation holding position to the separation release position.

[0160] Also, when the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 shifts from the closed state to the open state in this state, the first force applying portion 190a rises in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA direction. Along with this, the moving member 152R moves in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA direction by the action of the biasing member 153. However, the spacer 151R remains in the separation release position, and the developing unit 109 also remains in the developing position.

[0161] [Separation Operation of Developing Unit (Non-Driving Side)] Next, the operation of moving the developing unit 109 from the contact position to the separation position will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 38 and 39. Note that FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the developing cover member 128, a part of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117, and a part of the non-driving side bearing 127 are partially omitted by partial cross-section lines CS for the sake of explanation.

[0162] As described above, in the state shown in FIG. 38, it can be said that the moving member 152L and the protruding portion 152Lh are in the operating positions. The separation control member 196L in the present embodiment is configured to be movable from the home position in the direction of arrow W42 in FIG. 38. When the separation control member 196L moves in the direction of W42, the second force application surface 196Lb and the first force receiving surface 152Lm of the first force receiving portion 152Lk of the moving member 152L come into contact, and the moving member 152L rotates in the direction of arrow BC about the moving member swing axis HD. Note that the contact between the second force application surface 196Lb and the first force receiving surface 152Lm does not necessarily have to be surface contact, and line contact or point contact may also be acceptable. In this way, the second force application surface 196Lb applies a separation force (retreat force) to the first force receiving surface 152Lm. The moving direction of the protruding portion 152Lh when the moving member 152L rotates in the direction of BC is referred to as the second direction. And since the developing frame pressing surface 152Lq of the moving member 152L is in contact with the pressed surface 127h of the non-driving side bearing 127, the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V1 about the swing axis K from the contact position (the state in FIG. 39). At this time, although the pressed-in surface 152Lf of the moving member 152L has an arc shape, the center of this arc is arranged to coincide with the swing axis K.

[0163] When the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position to the separation position by this, the force received by the pressed-in surface 152Lf of the moving member 152L from the cartridge pressing unit 190 is directed in the direction of the swing axis K. Therefore, it can be operated so as not to prevent the rotation of the developing unit 109 in the direction of arrow V1. The spacer 151L has the regulated surface 151Lk of the spacer 151L separated from the spacer regulating surface 117d of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 117, and the spacer 151L rotates in the direction of arrow B4 (the direction from the separation release position to the separation holding position) by the biasing force of the tension spring 153. As a result, the spacer 151L rotates until the pressed portion 151Le comes into contact with the spacer pressing surface 152LR of the moving member 152L, and by coming into contact, it shifts to the separation holding position (the first position).

[0164] When the developing unit 109 moves from the contact position toward the separated position by the separation control member 196L and the spacer 151L is located at the separated holding position, a gap T5 is formed between the contact surface 151Lc and the surface 117c to be contacted as shown in FIG. 39. Here, the position where the developing unit 109 is rotated from the contact position toward the separated position and the spacer 151L can move to the separated holding position is referred to as the second position of the separation control member 196L.

[0165] Thereafter, the separation control member 196L moves in the direction of arrow W41 and returns from the second position to the home position. Then, while the spacer 151L maintains the separated holding position, the developing unit 109 rotates in the direction of arrow V2 by the driving torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the biasing force of the developing pressure spring 134, and the contact surface 151Lc and the surface 117c to be contacted come into contact. That is, the developing unit 109 is in a state where the separated position is maintained by the spacer 151L, and the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are separated by the gap P1 (the states of FIGS. 36 and 34(a)). Note that the above-described gaps T3 and T4 are formed again, and the separation control member 196L is located at a position where it does not act on the moving member 152L (the state of FIG. 36). The transition from the state of FIG. 39 to the state of FIG. 36 is executed without delay.

[0166] In the above description, it is assumed that the first force receiving surface 152Lm is applied with a separating force (retreating force) from the second force applying surface 196Lb. In this regard, the separating force is a force applied from the second force applying surface 196Lb that moves in the direction of W42, and is a force applied to the process cartridge 100 to move the developing roller 106 in the direction away from the photosensitive drum 104 (separating direction, retreating direction, or V1 direction). Therefore, as long as the developing unit 109 is configured to move from the developing position toward the retreat position triggered by receiving the separating force, it is not necessary for the process cartridge 100 to continuously receive the separating force until the developing unit 109 reaches the retreat position.

[0167] As described above, in the configuration of this embodiment, when the separation control member 196L moves from the home position to the second position, the spacer 151L moves from the separation release position to the separation holding position. Then, when the separation control member 196L returns from the second position to the home position, the developing unit 109 is maintained in a state where the separation position is maintained by the spacer 151L. That is, the developing unit 109 is restricted by the spacer 151L from moving to the contact position against the driving torque received from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus and the biasing force in the direction of arrow V2 due to the biasing of the developing pressure spring 134, and is maintained in the separation position.

[0168] In this way, the separation force applied from the separation control member 196L is transmitted to the pressed surface 127h of the non-driving side bearing (a part of the developing frame) 127 via the moving member 152L, thereby moving the developing unit 109 from the contact position to the separation position (retreat position), and moving the spacer 151R from the separation release position to the separation holding position.

[0169] In a state where the developing unit 109 is in the separation position (retreat position), the position of the developing unit 109 with respect to the drum unit 108 is biased in the V2 direction by the driving torque received from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus and the developing pressure spring 134. As described above, the supported portion 151La contacts the first support portion 127b, and the contact portion 151Lc contacts the contacted surface 117c, thereby determining the position. Therefore, the contacted surface 117c can be said to be a positioning portion (first positioning portion) that positions the developing unit 109 in which the photosensitive drum 104 is in the separation position (retreat position). At this time, it can be said that the developing unit 109 is stably held by the drum unit 108. Also, it can be said that the spacer 151L in the separation holding position (first position) creates a situation where the drum unit 108 can stably hold the developing unit 109 in the separation position (retreat position).

[0170] Also, when the front door 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 170 shifts from the closed state to the open state in this state, the first force applying portion 190a rises in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA. Along with this, the moving member 152L moves in the direction opposite to the arrow ZA by the action of the biasing member 153. However, the spacer 151L remains in the separated holding position, and the developing unit 109 also remains in the separated position.

[0171] So far, the operations of the separation mechanisms located on the driving side and the non-driving side of the process cartridge 100 have been described separately, but in this embodiment, they operate in conjunction with each other. That is, when the developing unit 109 is positioned at the separated position by the spacer 151R, it occurs substantially simultaneously with the developing unit 109 being positioned at the separated position by the spacer 151L, and the same applies to the contact position. Specifically, the movements of the separation control member 196R and the separation control member 196L described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 27 and FIGS. 35 to 39 move integrally by a coupling mechanism (not shown). As a result, the timing at which the spacer 151R located on the driving side is positioned at the separated holding position and the timing at which the spacer 151L located on the non-driving side is positioned at the separated holding position are substantially the same. Also, the timing at which the spacer 151R is positioned at the separation release position and the timing at which the spacer 151L is positioned at the separation release position are each substantially the same. Although these timings may be offset between the driving side and the non-driving side, in order to shorten the time from when the user starts a printing job until the printed matter is discharged, it is desirable that at least the timings of being positioned at the separation release position are the same. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the swing axes H of the spacer 151R and the spacer 151L are coaxial, but as long as the timings of being positioned at the separation release position are substantially the same as described above, it is not limited to this. Similarly, the moving member swing axis HC of the moving member 152R and the moving member swing axis HE of the moving member 152L are non-coincident axes, but as long as the timings of being positioned at the separation release position are substantially the same as described above, it is not limited to this.

[0172] In order to perform the above-described contact operation and separation operation, the width of the protruding portion 152Rh of the moving member 152R or the distance between the first force receiving surface 152Rm and the first force receiving surface 152Rp with respect to the W41 direction or the W42 direction is desirably 10 mm or less, more desirably 6 mm or less. By setting such dimensional relationships, it becomes possible to perform appropriate contact operations and separation operations. The same applies to the non-driven side moving member 152L.

[0173] As described above, in this embodiment, the drive side and the non-drive side have the same separation contact mechanisms 150R and 150L, and they operate substantially simultaneously. As a result, even when the process cartridge 100 is twisted or deformed in the longitudinal direction, the separation amount between the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing roller 9 can be controlled at both longitudinal ends. Therefore, variations in the separation amount in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed.

[0174] Further, according to this embodiment, by moving the separation control member 196R (196L) in one direction (arrow W41, W42 directions) between the home position, the first position, and the second position, the contact state and the separation state between the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 can be controlled. Therefore, the developing roller 106 can be brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 104 only when image formation is performed, and the state in which the developing roller 4 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 can be maintained when image formation is not performed. Therefore, even when left for a long period of time without performing image formation, the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 do not deform, and stable image formation can be performed.

[0175] Further, according to this embodiment, the moving member 152R (152L) that acts on the spacer 151R (151L) to cause rotational movement can be positioned at the storage position by a biasing force such as a tension spring 153. Therefore, when the process cartridge 100 exists outside the image forming apparatus main body 170, miniaturization can be achieved for the process cartridge 100 alone without protruding from the outermost shape of the process cartridge 100.

[0176] Also, the moving member 152R (152L) can be positioned at the storage position by the biasing force of a tension spring 153 or the like. Therefore, when the process cartridge 100 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 170, the process cartridge 100 can be attached by moving it in only one direction. Thus, it is not necessary to move the process cartridge 100 (tray 171) in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to realize miniaturization of the main body without requiring extra space in the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0177] Further, according to the present embodiment, when the separation control member 196R (196L) is positioned at the home position, no load is applied to the separation control member 196R (196L) from the process cartridge 100. Therefore, the rigidity required for the separation control member 196R (196L) and the mechanism for operating the separation control member 196R (196L) can be reduced, and miniaturization can be achieved. Also, since the load on the sliding portion of the mechanism for operating the separation control member 196R (196L) is reduced, wear and generation of abnormal noise of the sliding portion can be suppressed.

[0178] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the developing unit 109 can maintain the separated position only by the spacers 151R (151L) provided in the process cartridge 100. Therefore, the number of component parts that cause variations in the separation amount between the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 can be reduced, and thus component tolerances can be reduced and the separation amount can be minimized. Since the separation amount can be reduced, when the process cartridge 100 is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 170, the existing area of the developing unit 109 when the developing unit 109 moves to the contact position and the separated position becomes smaller, thereby realizing miniaturization of the image forming apparatus. In addition, since the space of the developer storage portion 29 of the developing unit 109 that moves to the contact position and the separated position can be increased, it is possible to dispose a miniaturized and large-capacity process cartridge 100 in the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0179] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the moving member 152R (152L) is located at the storage position when the process cartridge 100 is mounted, and the developing unit 109 can maintain the separated position by the spacers 151R (151L) provided in the process cartridge 100. Therefore, when the process cartridge 100 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 170, the process cartridge 100 can be mounted by moving it in only one direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the process cartridge 100 (tray 171) in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to realize miniaturization of the main body without requiring extra space in the image forming apparatus main body 170. In addition, since the amount of separation can be reduced, when the process cartridge 100 is arranged in the image forming apparatus main body 170, the existing area of the developing unit 109 when the developing unit 109 moves between the contact position and the separated position becomes smaller, thereby realizing miniaturization of the image forming apparatus. In addition, since the space of the developer storage portion 29 of the developing unit 109 that moves between the contact position and the separated position can be increased, it is possible to arrange a process cartridge 100 that is miniaturized and has a large capacity in the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0180] Note that, in the present embodiment, the developing unit 109 is biased in the direction of arrow V2 (the direction of moving from the separated position to the developing position) by the driving torque of the developing coupling portion 132a received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the biasing force of the developing pressure spring 134. However, as a configuration for biasing the developing unit 109 in the V2 direction, it is also possible to utilize the gravity acting on the developing unit 109. That is, the gravity acting on the developing unit 109 may be configured to generate a moment that rotates the developing unit 109 in the V2 direction. When such a biasing configuration in the V2 direction by its own weight is adopted, the biasing configuration by the developing pressure spring 134 may not be provided, or it may be used in combination with the biasing configuration by the developing pressure spring 134.

[0181] [Details of the Arrangement of the Separation-Contact Mechanisms 150R and L] Next, the arrangement of the separation contact mechanisms 150R and 150L in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 40 and 41. FIG. 40 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the spacer 151R as seen from the drive side along the swing axis K (the photosensitive drum axis direction) of the developing unit 109 for the process cartridge 100. In addition, it is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the developing cover member 128 and a part of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 are partially omitted by the partial cross-section line CS for the purpose of explanation. FIG. 41 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the spacer 151R as seen from the non-drive side along the swing axis K (the photosensitive drum axis direction) of the developing unit 109 for the process cartridge 100. In addition, it is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the developing cover member 128 and a part of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 are partially omitted by the partial cross-section line CS for the purpose of explanation. Regarding the arrangement of the spacer and the moving member to be described later, except for the parts to be described in detail later, there is no distinction between the drive side and the non-drive side and they are common to both, so the explanation will be made only for the drive side (FIG. 40), and the explanation for the non-drive side (FIG. 41) will be omitted, but the non-drive side has the same configuration.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 40, a straight line passing through the rotation axis M1 (point M1 in FIG. 40) of the photosensitive drum 104 and the rotation axis M2 (point M2 in FIG. 40) of the developing roller 106 is defined as line N. Further, the contact area between the contact surface 151Rc of the spacer 151R and the surface 116c to be contacted of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116 is defined as M3, and the contact area between the surface 151Re to be pressed of the spacer 151R and the spacer pressing surface 152Rr of the moving member 152R is defined as M4. Furthermore, the distance between the swing axis K of the developing unit 109 and point M2 is defined as distance e1, the distance between the swing axis K and area M3 is defined as distance e2, and the distance between the swing axis K and point M4 is defined as distance e3.

[0183] In the configuration of this embodiment, when the developing unit 109 is in the separated position and the moving member 152R (152L) is in the protruding position, when looking at the developing unit 109 along the swing axis K (or the rotation axis M1 or the rotation axis M2), it has the following positional relationship. That is, as shown in FIG. 40, when looking along the swing axis K, at least a part of the contact area M3 is arranged in the area AD1 on the opposite side of the area AU1 where the center of the developing coupling portion 132a (swing axis K) is arranged when the area is divided by the line N. That is, the contact surface 151Rc of the spacer 151R is arranged such that the distance e2 is longer than the distance e1. Also, as shown in FIG. 40, when looking along the swing axis K, at least a part of the protruding portion 152Rh is arranged in the area AD1 on the opposite side of the area AU1 where the center of the developing coupling portion 132a (swing axis K) is arranged when the area is divided by the line N. In FIG. 40 (FIG. 41), assuming that the vertical direction in the figure is the vertical direction, the posture of the process cartridge 100 is the same as the posture in the state of being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 170. This posture can also be said to be the posture when the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 104 is horizontal and the photosensitive drum 104 is arranged at the lower part in the process cartridge 100. In such a posture, the area AD1 corresponds to the lower part of the process cartridge 100 and is also an area including the bottom of the process cartridge 100.

[0184] By arranging the spacer 151R and the contact surface 151Rc in this way, when the position of the contact surface 151Rc varies due to component tolerances, etc., the variation in the posture of the separated position of the developing unit 109 can be suppressed to a small extent. That is, with respect to the separation amount (gap) P1 between the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 (see FIG. 1(a)), the influence of the variation of the contact surface 151Rc can be minimized as much as possible, and the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 can be separated accurately. Also, there is no need to have an extra space for the developing unit 109 to retract when separated, which leads to the miniaturization of the image forming apparatus main body 170.

[0185] Also, the first force receiving part 152Rk (152Lk) and the second force receiving part 152Rn (152Ln), which are the force receiving parts of the moving member 152R (152L), are arranged on the side opposite to the rotation center (rotation axis) K of the developing coupling part 132a with the line N interposed therebetween. That is, at least a part of each of the force receiving parts 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) is arranged in the region AD1 on the side opposite to the region AU1 where the rotation center (rotation axis) K of the developing coupling 132a is arranged.

[0186] As described above, the protruding part (force receiving part) 152Rh (152Lh) is arranged at the longitudinal end. Also, at the longitudinal end, as shown in FIG. 15 (FIG. 16), a cylindrical part 128b (127a), which is a support part of the developing unit 109, is arranged. Therefore, by arranging the force receiving part 152Rh (152Lh) including the first force receiving part 152Rk (152Lk) and the second force receiving part 152Rn (152Ln) at a position on the side opposite to the line N with respect to the cylindrical part 128b (127a) (that is, the swing axis K) of the developing unit 109, the functional parts can be arranged efficiently. That is, it leads to the miniaturization of the process cartridge 100 and the image forming apparatus M. More specifically, when viewed from the direction along the rotation axis M2 and separated by the straight line N as a boundary, in the region AU1 where the swing axis K is arranged, a structure for movably supporting the developing unit 109 such as the cylindrical part 128b (127a) with respect to the drum unit 108 is arranged. For this reason, it is possible to achieve an efficient layout that avoids interference between members by arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving parts 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) in the region AD1 where the developing coupling part 132a is not arranged rather than in the region AU1 where the swing axis K is arranged. This leads to the miniaturization of the process cartridge 100 and the image forming apparatus M.

[0187] In addition, the force receiving part 152Rh (152Lh) is arranged at the longitudinal driving side end. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, at the longitudinal driving side end, a developing drive input gear 132 (or a developing coupling part 132a) that receives drive from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and drives the developing roller 106 is provided. As shown in FIG. 40, the first force receiving part 152Rk and the second force receiving part 152Rn of the moving member are arranged on the side opposite to the rotation center K of the developing drive input gear 132 (developing coupling part 132a) indicated by a broken line, with the extension line of line N in between. With this arrangement, the functional parts can be arranged efficiently. That is, it leads to miniaturization of the process cartridge 100 and the image forming apparatus M. More specifically, when viewed from the direction along the rotation axis M2 and separated by the straight line N, in the region AU1 where the developing coupling part 132a is arranged, drive members for driving the members provided in the developing unit 109 such as the developing roller 106 like the developing drive input gear 132 are arranged. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an efficient layout that avoids interference between members by arranging at least a part of the force receiving part 152Rh in the region AD1 where the developing coupling part 132a is not arranged rather than in the region AU1 where the developing coupling part 132a is arranged. This leads to miniaturization of the process cartridge 100 and the image forming apparatus M.

[0188] In the above description, the regions AU1 and AD1 are defined as the regions where the swing axis K or the developing coupling part 132a is arranged and the regions where they are not arranged when separated by the straight line N when viewed from the direction along the rotation axis M2. However, it is also possible to define them differently. The regions AU1 and AD1 may be defined as the regions where the charging roller 105 or its rotation axis (rotation center) M5 is arranged and the regions where they are not arranged when separated by the straight line N when viewed from the direction along the rotation axis M2.

[0189] Further, FIG. 236 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 100 in a separated state as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis M2. Considering FIGS. 3 and 236, as yet another definition, the regions AU1 and AD1 may be defined as the regions where the developing blade 130, the proximity point 130d, the stirring member 129a, the rotation axis M7 of the stirring member 129a, or the pressed surface 152Rf are arranged and not arranged when separated by the straight line N as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis M2. The proximity point 130d is the position closest to the surface of the developing roller 106 of the developing blade 130.

[0190] In a general electrophotographic cartridge, particularly in a cartridge used in an image forming apparatus with an in-line layout, other members of the cartridge are relatively difficult to be arranged in the region AD1. Also, when at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) is arranged in the region AD1, the apparatus main body 170 has the following merits. That is, the separation control member 196R (196L) of the apparatus main body 170 is arranged below the cartridge and moved in a substantially horizontal direction (in the directions of W41 and W42 in this embodiment, which is the arrangement direction of the photosensitive drum 104 or the cartridge 100) to press the force receiving portion 152Rh (152Lh). With such a configuration, the separation control member 196R (196L) and its drive mechanism can be made into a relatively simple configuration or a small configuration. This is particularly remarkable in an image forming apparatus with an in-line layout. Thus, arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) in the region AD1 is also expected to contribute to miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus main body 170.

[0191] Furthermore, the contact portion between the spacer 151R and the moving member 152R is arranged such that the distance e3 is longer than the distance e1. Thereby, the spacer 151R and the driving side cartridge cover member 116 can be brought into contact with a lighter force. That is, it becomes possible to stably separate the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104.

[0192] Regarding the arrangement of the above separation and contact mechanism 150R and 150L, although it has been described with reference to FIGS. 40 and 41 showing the process cartridge 100 in the separated state, it is clear from other figures that the same relationship also holds for the process cartridge 100 in the contact state. FIG. 235 is a side view (partial cross-sectional view) of the process cartridge 100 in the contact state as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis M2. The arrangement of each force receiving portion 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) is the same as that described above.

[0193] Also, let the direction be VD1 perpendicular to the straight line N. On the driving side, the moving member 152R and each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn are configured to move between the standby position and the operating position by moving in the ZA direction and the opposite direction with respect to the drum frame body and the developing frame body. And by this movement in the ZA direction and the opposite direction, the moving member 152R and each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD1 direction. That is, the moving member 152R and each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD1 direction and move between the standby position and the operating position. According to this configuration, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the developing unit 109 can be moved between the developing position and the retracted position by receiving a force from the separation control member 196R by each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn. And when the moving member 152R is in the standby position, it is possible to avoid the moving member 152R and each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn interfering with the separation control member 196R and making it impossible to insert or remove the process cartridge 100 with respect to the apparatus main body 170. The configuration on the non-driving side is the same.

[0194] Also, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the protruding portions 152Rh provided with each force receiving portion 152Rk, 152Rn are arranged at positions protruding at least in the VD1 direction from the developing unit 109. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the protruding portion 152Rh in the space 196Rd between the first force applying surface 196Ra and the second force applying surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R. The configuration on the non-driving side is the same.

[0195] [Details of the Arrangement of the Separation / Contact Mechanisms 150R and 150L - Part 2] Regarding a concept similar to the concept of arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk (152Lk) and 152Rn (152Ln) in the region AD1 as described above, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 236 and 237.

[0196] FIGS. 236 and 237 are schematic cross-sectional views of the process cartridge 100 as seen from the drive side along the rotation axis M1, rotation axis K, or rotation axis M2 of the developing unit 109. FIG. 236 shows the separated state, and FIG. 237 shows the contact state. Regarding the arrangement of the spacer 151 and the moving member 152 to be described later, there is no distinction between the drive side and the non-drive side, and they are common to both. Also, they are almost the same in both the contact state and the separated state. Therefore, the explanation will be made only for the separated state on the drive side using FIG. 236, and the explanation for the non-drive side and the explanation in the contact state will be omitted.

[0197] The rotation axis of the toner conveyance roller (developer supply member) 107 is the rotation axis (rotation center) M6. Further, the process cartridge 100 has a stirring member 108 that rotates and stirs the developer accommodated in the developing unit 109, and its rotation axis is the rotation axis (rotation center) M7.

[0198] In FIG. 236, among the intersections of the straight line N10 connecting the rotation axis M1 and the rotation axis M5 and the surface of the photosensitive drum 104, the intersection farther from the rotation axis M5 is defined as the intersection MX1. A tangent line (predetermined tangent line) N11 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 104 passing through the intersection MX1 is defined. The region is divided by the tangent line N11, and the region where the rotation axis M1, the charging roller 105, the rotation axis M5, the developing roller 106, the rotation axis M2, the developing coupling portion 132a, the rotation axis K, the developing blade 130, the proximity point 130d, the toner conveying roller 107, the rotation axis M6, the stirring member 129a, the rotation axis M7, or the surface to be pressed 152Rf is arranged is defined as the region AU2, and the region where they are not arranged is defined as the region (predetermined region) AD2. Also, the regions AU2 and AD2 may be defined in the following different way. That is, when the direction parallel to and in the same direction as the direction from the rotation axis M5 toward the rotation axis M1 is defined as the VD10 direction, the most downstream portion of the photosensitive drum 104 with respect to the VD10 direction is the intersection MX1. Then, with respect to the direction VD10, the region upstream of the most downstream portion MX1 is defined as the region AU2, and the region downstream is defined as the region (predetermined region) AD2. The regions AU2 and AD2 defined by any expression are the same.

[0199] And at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn is arranged in the region AD2. Thus, arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn in the region AD2 can also be expected to contribute to downsizing of the process cartridge 100 and the apparatus main body 170 and cost reduction. This is for the same reason as when at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn is arranged in the region AD1. The same applies to the non-driven side configuration.

[0200] Further, the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk, 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD10 direction by the movement in the ZA direction and the reverse direction thereof. That is, the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk, 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD10 direction and move between the standby position and the operating position. According to this configuration, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the developing unit 109 can be moved between the developing position and the retracted position by receiving a force from the separation control member 196R by each of the force receiving portions 152Rk, 152Rn. When the moving member 152R is in the standby position, it is possible to avoid the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk, 152Rn from interfering with the separation control member 196R and making it impossible to insert or remove the process cartridge 100 with respect to the apparatus main body 170. The same applies to the configuration on the non-driven side.

[0201] Further, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the protruding portions 152Rh provided with the respective force receiving portions 152Rk, 152Rn are arranged at positions protruding at least in the VD10 direction from the developing unit 109. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the protruding portions 152Rh in the space 196Rd between the first force applying surface 196Ra and the second force applying surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R. The same applies to the configuration on the non-driven side.

[0202] [Details of the Arrangement of the Separation Contact Mechanisms 150R, L - Part 3] A concept similar to the concept of arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk (152Lk), 152Rn (152Ln) as described above in the region AD1 will be described with reference to FIG. 238.

[0203] FIG. 238 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 100 in a separated state, as viewed from the driving side along the rotation axis M1, rotation axis K, or rotation axis M2 of the developing unit 109. Regarding the arrangement of the spacer 151 and the moving member 152 to be described later, there is no distinction between the driving side and the non-driving side, and both are common. Also, since it is substantially the same in both the contacting state and the separated state, the description will be made only for the separated state on the driving side using FIG. 238, and the description for the non-driving side and the description in the contacting state will be omitted.

[0204] In FIG. 238, of the intersections between the straight line N12 connecting the rotation axis K and the rotation axis M2 and the surface of the developing roller 106, the intersection farther from the rotation axis K is defined as the intersection MX2. A tangent line (predetermined tangent line) N13 to the surface of the developing roller 106 passing through the intersection MX2 is defined. The regions are divided with the tangent line N13 as the boundary, and the region where the developing coupling portion 132a, rotation axis K, rotation axis M2, charging roller 105, rotation axis M5, developing blade 130, near contact point 130d, toner conveying roller 107, rotation axis M6, stirring member 129a, rotation axis M7, or the pressed surface 152Rf is arranged is defined as the region AU3, and the region where they are not arranged is defined as the region (predetermined region) AD3. Also, the regions AU3 and AD3 may be defined in the following alternative way. That is, when the direction parallel to and in the same direction as the direction from the rotation axis K toward the rotation axis M2 is defined as the VD12 direction, the most downstream portion of the developing roller 106 in the VD12 direction is the intersection MX2. Then, with respect to the VD12 direction, the region upstream of the most downstream portion MX2 is defined as the region AU3, and the region downstream is defined as the region (predetermined region) AD3. The regions AU3 and AD3 defined by any of the expressions are the same.

[0205] And at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn is arranged in the region AD3. Thus, arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn in the region AD3 is also expected to contribute to downsizing of the process cartridge 100 and the apparatus main body 170 and cost reduction. This is for the same reason as when arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn in the region AD1. The same applies to the configuration on the non-driving side.

[0206] Further, the moving member 152R and the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD12 direction by the movement in the ZA direction and the reverse direction thereof. That is, the moving member 152R and the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD12 direction and move between the standby position and the operating position. According to this configuration, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the developing unit 109 can be moved between the developing position and the retracted position by receiving a force from the separation control member 196R by the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn. When the moving member 152R is in the standby position, it is possible to avoid the moving member 152R and the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn from interfering with the separation control member 196R and making it impossible to insert or remove the process cartridge 100 with respect to the apparatus main body 170. The same applies to the non-driven side configuration.

[0207] Also, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the protruding portions 152Rh provided with the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are arranged at positions protruding at least in the VD12 direction from the developing unit 109. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the protruding portions 152Rh in the space 196Rd between the first force applying surface 196Ra and the second force applying surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R. The same applies to the non-driven side configuration.

[0208] [Details of the Arrangement of the Separation Contact Mechanisms 150R and L - Part 4] A concept similar to the concept of arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk (152Lk) and 152Rn (152Ln) as described above in the region AD1 will be described with reference to FIG. 239.

[0209] FIG. 239 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 100 in a separated state, as seen from the driving side along the rotation axis M1, rotation axis K, or rotation axis M2 of the developing unit 109. Regarding the arrangement of the spacer 151 and the moving member 152 to be described hereinafter, there is no distinction between the driving side and the non-driving side, and they are common to both. Also, since they are substantially the same in both the contacting state and the separated state, the description will be given only for the separated state on the driving side using FIG. 239, and the description for the non-driving side and the description in the contacting state will be omitted.

[0210] In FIG. 239, of the intersections between the straight line N14 connecting the rotation axis M2 and the rotation axis M6 and the surface of the developing roller 106, the intersection farther from the rotation axis K is defined as the intersection MX2. The tangent line to the surface of the developing roller 106 passing through the intersection MX2 is defined as the tangent line (predetermined tangent line) N14. When the region is divided with the tangent line N14 as the boundary, the region where the developing coupling portion 132a, the rotation axis K, the charging roller 105, the rotation axis M5, the developing blade 130, the proximity point 130d, the stirring member 129a, the rotation axis M7, or the surface 152Rf to be pressed is arranged is defined as the region AU4, and the region where they are not arranged is defined as the region (predetermined region) AD4.

[0211] And at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn is arranged in the region AD4. Thus, arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn in the region AD4 can also be expected to contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of the process cartridge 100 and the apparatus main body 170. This is for the same reason as when arranging at least a part of each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn in the region AD1. The same applies to the configuration on the non-driving side.

[0212] Further, the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are displaced in the VD14 direction that is at least orthogonal to the straight line N14 by the movement in the ZA direction and the reverse direction thereof. That is, the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are displaced at least in the VD14 direction and move between the standby position and the operating position. According to this configuration, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the developing unit 109 can be moved between the developing position and the retracted position by receiving a force from the separation control member 196R by each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn. When the moving member 152R is in the standby position, it is possible to avoid the moving member 152R and each of the force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn from interfering with the separation control member 196R and making it impossible to insert or remove the process cartridge 100 with respect to the apparatus main body 170. The same applies to the non-driven side configuration.

[0213] Further, when the moving member 152R is in the operating position, the protruding portions 152Rh provided with the respective force receiving portions 152Rk and 152Rn are arranged at positions protruding at least in the VD14 direction from the developing unit 109. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the protruding portions 152Rh in the space 196Rd between the first force applying surface 196Ra and the second force applying surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R. The same applies to the non-driven side configuration.

[0214] The arrangement relationships of the respective force receiving portions described above are the same relationships in all the embodiments described hereinafter.

[0215] [Holding mechanism] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration for the drum unit 108 to stably hold the developing unit 109 at the retracted position and the developing position, respectively, was described with the spacer 151R that can take the first position and the second position being held by the holding member or the separation holding portion 151Rb that is a part thereof as the holding portion. However, the configuration of this embodiment can also be viewed as follows. That is, as a holding mechanism for the drum unit 108 to stably hold the developing unit 109 at the retracted position and the developing position, respectively, at least the spacer 151R, the first support portion 128c of the developing cover member 128, the abutted surface 116c of the drive-side cartridge cover member 116, and the developing pressure spring 134 can be mentioned. In this case, it can be said that when the spacer 151R takes the first position and the developing unit 109 is at the retracted position, the holding mechanism is in the first state, and when the spacer 151R takes the second position and the developing unit 109 is at the developing position, the holding mechanism is in the second state.

[0216] <Example 2> Next, Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 42 to 46. In this example, configurations and operations different from those of the above-described example will be described, and members having the same configurations and functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In Example 1, the separation contact mechanisms 150R and 150L were provided as separation contact mechanisms on the drive side and the non-drive side, respectively. In contrast, in this example, a configuration in which a separation contact mechanism is provided only on one side of the process cartridge will be described.

[0217] FIGS. 42 to 46 are diagrams showing a state when the developing unit 109 is at the separated position and the moving member of the separation contact mechanism is at the protruding position. FIG. 42(a) is a perspective view of the process cartridge 100 of Example 1 as viewed from below the drive side. FIG. 42(b) is a schematic diagram showing the separation amount of the developing roller 106 with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 100 of Example 1.

[0218] As shown in FIG. 42, the separation amount P1 in the first embodiment is set to be the same amount on the driving side and the non-driving side. The separation amount P1 can be changed by changing the distance n1 from the swing axis H of the spacer 151 to the contact surface 151Rc. The separation amount is changed in the same configuration in the present embodiment shown below.

[0219] In the form shown in FIG. 43 of the present embodiment, the separation contact mechanism 250-1 of the process cartridge 200-1 is arranged only on the driving side, and there is no separation contact mechanism on the non-driving side. FIG. 43(a) is a perspective view of the process cartridge 200-1 viewed from below the driving side. FIG. 43(b) is a schematic diagram showing the separation amount of the developing roller 106 with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 200-1.

[0220] As shown in FIG. 43, since the separation contact mechanism 250-1 is arranged only on the driving side, due to the influence of the developing pressure spring (not shown in FIG. 43, refer to 134 in FIG. 34), the separation amount P2-1L on the non-driving side is smaller than the separation amount P2-1R on the driving side. Here, the separation amount P2-1R on the driving side is set larger than the separation amount P1 (refer to FIG. 42(b) of the first embodiment) so that the separation amount P2-1L on the non-driving side does not become zero, that is, the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 do not contact on the non-driving side.

[0221] Thereby, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since there is no separation contact mechanism on the non-driving side, the process cartridge and the main body of the image forming apparatus can be miniaturized and the cost can be reduced.

[0222] FIG. 44 shows another form 1 of the present embodiment. In this form, the separation contact mechanism 250-2 of the process cartridge 200-2 is arranged only on the driving side, and there is no separation contact mechanism on the non-driving side. In this form, when the developing unit 109 is in the separated position, the non-driving side end of the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are in a contact state. FIG. 44(a) is a perspective view of the process cartridge 200-2 viewed from below the driving side. FIG. 44(b) is a schematic diagram showing the separation amount of the developing roller 106 with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 200-2.

[0223] Unlike the form shown in FIG. 43, in the form shown in FIG. 44, the separation amount P2 - 2R on the driving side is set to be equal to or smaller than the separation amount P1 in the first embodiment. In this case, due to the biasing force of the developing pressure spring (not shown in FIG. 43, refer to 134 in FIG. 34), the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are in contact on the non - driving side. However, if the contact range m2 on the non - driving side is set so as not to enter the image forming area m4, it will not affect the image. However, if the influence on the image is negligibly small, or if it is assumed that the use can ignore the influence on the image even if there is an influence, it is not always necessary to set the contact range m2 so as not to enter the image forming area m4. That is, in such a case, the contact range m2 may be set to enter the image forming area m4.

[0224] As described above, in this form, by reducing the separation amount with respect to the form shown in FIG. 43, it is possible to lead to the miniaturization of the image forming apparatus as described in the first embodiment. Also, since there is no separation contact mechanism on the driving side, the miniaturization and cost reduction of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body can be achieved.

[0225] FIG. 45 shows another form 2 of this embodiment. In this form, the separation contact mechanism 250 - 1 of the process cartridge 200 - 3 is arranged only on the non - driving side, and there is no separation contact mechanism on the driving side. FIG. 45(a) is a perspective view of the process cartridge 200 - 3 as viewed from below on the non - driving side. FIG. 45(b) is a schematic diagram showing the separation amount of the developing roller 106 with respect to the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 200 - 3.

[0226] As shown in FIG. 45, since the separation contact mechanism 250 - 3 is arranged only on the non - driving side, due to the influence of the driving input gear (not shown in FIG. 45, refer to 132a in FIG. 1), the separation amount P2 - 3R on the driving side is smaller than the separation amount P2 - 3L on the non - driving side. Here, the separation amount P2 - 3L on the non - driving side is set to be larger than the separation amount P1 in the first embodiment so that the separation amount P2 - 3R on the driving side does not become zero, that is, the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 do not contact on the driving side.

[0227] As a result, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since there is no separation contact mechanism on the driving side, the process cartridge and the main body of the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size and cost can be reduced.

[0228] FIG. 46 shows another form of this embodiment. In this form, the separation contact mechanism 250-4 of the process cartridge 200-4 is arranged only on the non-driving side and there is no separation contact mechanism on the driving side. Also, when the developing unit 109 is in the separated position, the driving-side end of the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are formed. FIG. 46(a) is a perspective view of the process cartridge 200-4 viewed from below the driving side. FIG. 46(b) is a schematic diagram showing the amount of separation of the developing roller 106 from the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 200-4.

[0229] Unlike the form of FIG. 45, in the form of FIG. 46, the separation amount P2-4L on the non-driving side is set to be equal to or smaller than the separation amount P1 of the first embodiment. In this case, due to the influence of the driving input gear (not shown in FIG. 46, see 132a in FIG. 1), the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are in contact on the driving side. However, if the contact range m5 on the driving side is set so as not to enter the image forming area m4, it will not affect the image. Note that the separation amounts on the driving side and the non-driving side can be arbitrarily set within a range that does not affect the image.

[0230] As described above, by reducing the separation amount with respect to the form of FIG. 45, it is possible to lead to the reduction in size of the image forming apparatus as described in the first embodiment, and the cost of the process cartridge can also be reduced.

[0231] As described above, in this embodiment, four forms have been described. In these forms, the separation amounts on the driving side and the non-driving side can be arbitrarily set within a range that does not affect the image.

[0232] <Embodiment 3> Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 47 to 55.

[0233] In this embodiment, the configurations and operations different from those of the foregoing embodiments will be mainly described, and the descriptions of the same configurations and operations will be omitted. Also, for the configurations corresponding to those of the foregoing embodiments, the same reference numerals or the first half of the numerals are changed, and the reference numerals are assigned such that the second half of the numerals and the English letters are the same. This embodiment is mainly different from Embodiment 1 in the configuration and operation of the moving member. Note that the spacer 351L has the same configuration as the spacer 151L.

[0234] [Configuration of the Moving Member] First, the configuration of the moving member will be described by taking the non-driven side as an example. FIG. 47 is a diagram for explaining the disassembled assembly of the non-driven side moving member 352L. In the third embodiment, the moving member corresponding to the moving member 152L in the first embodiment is configured to be divided into two parts and connected. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 47, the moving member 352L has a two-part configuration of an upper moving member 352L1 and a lower moving member 352L2. A shaft 352L2a is provided on the lower moving member 352L2. Further, as shown in FIG. 48(a), the lower moving member 352L2 includes a protruding portion 352Lh that can protrude in the ZA direction from the developing unit, and a first force receiving portion (retreating force receiving portion, separating force receiving portion) 352Lk and a second force receiving portion (contacting force receiving portion) 352Ln are provided on the protruding portion 352Lh. The upper moving member 352L1 has an opening portion 352L1d on the opposing surface with the lower moving member 352L2. Also, the upper moving member 352L1 has a separating-time pressing portion 352L1q that presses the non-driven side bearing 327.

[0235] Also, a pair of oblong holes 352L1h are provided in the upper moving member 352L1 with the opening portion 352L1d interposed therebetween. A spring holding portion 352L2b is provided on the lower moving member 352L2. One end of a compression spring 352Lsp is fitted into the spring holding portion 352L2b, the other end is inserted through the opening portion 352L1d, and supported by a holding portion (not shown) at the back, and then assembled so that each shaft 352L2a fits into each oblong hole 352L1h. At that time, since it is assembled while expanding the tip portion 352L1a, 352L is preferably made of a plastic material. When 352L is made of a hard material, the shaft 352L2a and 352L2 may be configured separately. For example, the shaft 352L2a may be press-fitted into 352L2 and assembled finally.

[0236] In this way, the upper moving member 352L1 and the lower moving member 352L2 are connected by the oblong hole 352L1h and the pair of shafts 352L2a, and the upper moving member 352L1 is biased in a direction away from the lower moving member 352L2 by the compression spring 352Lsp. Further, the lower moving member 352L2 is configured to be rotatable about the shaft 352L2a with respect to the upper moving member 352L1. Also, the lower moving member 352L2 is configured to be relatively movable with respect to the upper moving member 352L1 in a direction along the oblong hole 352L1h2.

[0237] [Explanation of the operation of the moving member] Next, the operation of the moving member 352L will be described with reference to FIGS. 48(a) to (d). As described in the first embodiment, after the process cartridge 300 is completely inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 170, in conjunction with the operation of closing the front door 11, the moving member 352L is pressed by the cartridge pressing unit 190. The operation of the moving member 352L at that time will be described.

[0238] FIGS. 48(a) and (b) show a state where the moving member 352L is not being pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (free state), and FIGS. 48(c) and (d) show a state where the moving member 352L is being pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (locked state).

[0239] First, with reference to FIGS. 48(a) and (b), a state where the moving member 352L is not being pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (free state) will be described. As shown in FIG. 48(b), the lower moving member 352L2 has a groove formed between the arc-shaped guide ribs 327g1 and 327g2 centered on the swing shaft HE provided on the non-driving side bearing 327, and the shaft 352L2a is fitted into the groove.

[0240] The upper moving member 352L1 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole and in the ZA direction and is swingable about the shaft HE by fitting the oblong hole 352L1h2 into the shaft HE of the bearing 327. As described above, the lower moving member 352L2 is swingable about the shaft portion 352L2a with respect to the upper moving member 352L1. When the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 pushes the upper moving member 352L1, the upper moving member 352L1 can approach the lower moving member 352L2.

[0241] With the above configuration, in a state where the moving member 352L is not being pushed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (free state), as shown in FIG. 48(a), the lower moving member 352L2 is swingable in the directions of the arrows θu and θu' with a rotation radius Rx centered on the shaft portion 352L2a. Therefore, even if the first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 352Lk and the second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 352Ln of the lower moving member 352L2 receive a force and swing in the directions of the arrows θu and θu', no force is transmitted to the separation-time pressing portion 352L1q that presses the non-driven side bearing 327 of the upper moving member 352L1.

[0242] Next, with reference to FIGS. 48(c) and (d), the operation of the moving member 352L being pushed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (locked state) will be described. The upper moving member 352L1 is pushed down by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190, so that the upper moving member 352L1 moves toward the lower moving member 352L2 against the biasing force of the spring 352Lsp. As shown in FIGS. 48(c), (d), and 57, the engaging portion (corner shaft portion) 352L1a fits into the engaged portion (corner hole portion) 352L2h, and the upper moving member 352L1 and the lower moving member 352L2 become integral. That is, the lower moving member 352L2 is restricted from swinging about the shaft portion 352L2a with respect to the upper moving member 352L1. In this state, the integrated moving member 352L rotates about the moving member swing axis HE as shown in FIG. 48(c), and the shaft 352L2a moves in the groove formed between the arc-shaped guide ribs 327g1 and 327g2 shown in FIG. 48(d), and can swing in the directions of the arrows θw and θw' with the rotation radius Ry shown in FIG. 48(c). Although details will be described later, in the state of being pushed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190, the moving member 352L can move in the same manner as the moving member 152L in the first embodiment.

[0243] Also, in the state of not being pushed by the pressing mechanism 190, the lower moving member 352L2 can swing with a rotation radius Rx (see FIG. 48(a)) smaller than the aforementioned rotation radius Ry.

[0244] Note that the spacer (holding member) 351L is biased to rotate clockwise by the biasing member 153 (not shown in this embodiment for simplicity) at the 351Lf portion with the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

[0245] [Mounting of the Process Cartridge to the Image Forming Apparatus Main Body] Next, the operation of the moving member 352L when the process cartridge is inserted in Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 49(a) to (d). FIG. 49(a) shows a state in the middle of inserting the process cartridge 300 into the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 49(b) shows a state in the middle of removing the process cartridge 300 from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 49(c) shows a state immediately after the process cartridge 300 is completely inserted into the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus.

[0246] Now, as described above, in a state where the upper moving member 352L1 is not pushed (free state), as shown in FIG. 49(e), the lower moving member 352L2 can swing about the shaft portion 352L2a as the rotation center. In this embodiment, the lower moving member 352L2 is in the same position as the always protruding position of the moving member 152 in Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 35). Therefore, when the process cartridge 300 mounted on the cartridge tray 171 (not shown) is inserted into the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus in the direction of arrow X1 as in Embodiment 1, the separation control member 196L and the lower moving member 352L2 interfere with each other.

[0247] However, with the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 49(a), the lower moving member 352L2 swings in the direction of arrow θu´ about the shaft portion 352L2a, and it is possible to avoid the separation control member 196L and the lower moving member 352L2 from interfering with each other and becoming unable to be inserted into the apparatus main body 170.

[0248] At this time, the lower moving member 352L2 presses the spacer 351L by swinging in the direction of arrow θu´, moves from the separation holding position to the separation release position, and the developing unit 109 moves to the developing position (contact position). However, thereafter, since the separation control member 196L performs a reciprocating operation in the W42 direction and the W41 direction when the power of the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus is turned on, the developing unit 109 returns to the separation position (retracted position) again when the image forming preparation is completed.

[0249] Also, as shown in Fig. 50(a), when the insertion of the cartridge tray 171 into the apparatus main body 170 is completed, the lower moving member 352L2 may contact the separation control member 196L and stop at an intermediate position without reaching the state shown in Fig. 50(b). A method for surely avoiding this state will be described with reference to Figs. 50 and 51.

[0250] First, as shown in Fig. 51(a), a convex portion 352L1p serving as a rotation assist portion is provided on the upper moving member 352L1. Also, an inclined surface 352L2s is provided on the lower moving member 352L2. When the upper moving member 352L1 descends, this convex portion 352L1p contacts the inclined surface 352L2s and rotates the lower moving member 352L2 in the direction of arrow θu. By doing so, as shown in Fig. 50(a), the lower moving member 352L2 rotates in the direction of arrow θu and rotates to the position shown in Fig. 50(b) while pushing down the separation control member 196L in the direction of arrow θu.

[0251] Next, when the process cartridge 300 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the front door 11 is closed, the moving member 352L is pushed downward in the direction of arrow ZA shown in Fig. 52(a) by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (see Fig. 37 etc.). Then, as shown in Fig. 52(b), the engaging portion (corner shaft portion) 352L1a fits into the engaged portion (corner hole portion) 352L2h. That is, the upper moving member 352L1 and the lower moving member 352L2 are integrated and play substantially the same role as the moving member 152L in the first embodiment.

[0252] [Removal of the Process Cartridge from the Image Forming Apparatus Main Body] Conversely, also when removing the process cartridge 300 from the image forming apparatus main body in the direction of arrow X2 as shown in Fig. 49(b), the separation control member 196L and the lower moving member 352L2 interfere with each other.

[0253] However, as described above, since the moving member 352L1 is in a free state, when the lower moving member 352L2 receives a force from the first force receiving part (retreat force receiving part, separation force receiving part) 352Lk, it swings in the direction of arrow θu with the shaft part 352L2a as the rotation center. However, the force received by the first force receiving part (retreat force receiving part, separation force receiving part) 352Lk is not transmitted to the separation pressing part 352L1q that presses the non-driven side bearing 327 of the developing unit 109 of the upper moving member 352L1. That is, the moving member 352L1 cannot move the developing unit 109. This state is a transmission release state in which the transmission of the pressing force is released. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the interference between the separation control member 196L and the lower moving member 352L2 and prevent them from being unable to be removed from the apparatus main body 170. In addition, in this embodiment, it is an explanation about the process cartridge used in the color image forming apparatus. Therefore, there are 4 process cartridges and 4 separation control members. Therefore, depending on the station, the operation shown in FIG. 49 is repeated up to 4 times at most.

[0254] In addition, the lower moving member 352L2 is configured to return to the neutral position shown in FIG. 49(d) (the position where the angle θt formed by the upper moving member 352L1 and the lower moving member 352L2 shown in FIG. 56 is 0°) from the position shown in FIG. 49(c), for example, by the restoring force of the compression spring 352Lsp.

[0255] [Contact and separation operation of developing unit] FIG. 53(a) is a diagram showing the moment of contact between the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104, FIG. 53(b) is a diagram showing the separation operation of the developing unit 109, and FIG. 53(c) is a diagram showing details of the moving member 352. The moving member 352L is in a locked state and can perform substantially the same role as the moving member 152L shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, the moving member 352L receives a force from the separation control member 196L and acts on the spacer 351L to release the separation. Note that the member that contacts the spacer 351L may be either the upper moving member 352L1 or the lower moving member 352L2. That is, the contact-time pressing portion that presses the spacer 351L during the contact operation may be provided on at least one of the upper moving member 352L1 and the lower moving member 352L2. Further, when separating, the separation-time pressing portion 352L1q of the upper moving member 352L1 integrated with the lower moving member 352L2 contacts the shaft portion 327a by receiving a force from the separation control member 196L, and the entire developing frame 325 swings. This state is a transmission state in which the force received by the first force receiving portion 352Lk is transmitted to the separation-time pressing portion 352L1q, and the non-driven side bearing 237 can be moved in a direction in which the developing unit 109 moves from the developing position to the retracted position. Then, the spacer 351L moves by the same operation as in the first embodiment to maintain the separated state.

[0256] [Configuration of driving-side separation contact mechanism] FIG. 54 is an external view showing the configuration of the driving side of the developing unit portion of the process cartridge 300. In the present embodiment, the configuration has been described using the non-driven side separation contact mechanism. However, since the configuration of the driving side is the same, detailed description thereof is omitted. The moving member 352R on the driving side is a member corresponding to the moving member 152R in the first embodiment, and has a configuration in which the upper moving member 352R1 and the lower moving member 352R2 are connected in the same manner as the moving member 352L on the non-driven side.

[0257] [Driving-side and non-driven side separation contact mechanisms] FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 300 as viewed from the developing device side. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 55(a), the moving member 352L is arranged on the non-driving side and the moving member 352R is arranged on the driving side. As another form, as shown in FIG. 55(b), a configuration in which only the moving member 352L is provided on the non-driving side may be adopted. Further, as shown in FIG. 55(c), a configuration in which only the moving member 352R is provided on the driving side may be adopted.

[0258] According to the configuration of the present embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0259] In addition, in the present embodiment, the lower moving member 352L2 including the first force receiving portion (retreating force receiving portion, separating force receiving portion) 352Lk and the second force receiving portion (contacting force receiving portion) 352Ln is made movable with respect to the upper moving member 352L1 and other portions of the process cartridge 300. In the present embodiment, due to the movement, the first force receiving portion 352Lk and the second force receiving portion 352Ln are displaced in the ZA direction, and thereby are displaced at least in the directions VD1 (FIG. 40 etc.), VD10 (FIG. 236 etc.), VD12 (FIG. 238), and VD14 (FIG. 239). Then, the moving member 352L2 can be switched between a movable state (free state) and a state fixed to the upper moving member 352L1 (locked state) depending on the position of the upper moving member 352L1. Thereby, when the process cartridge 300 is inserted into or removed from the apparatus main body 170, by taking the above free state, it is possible to avoid the lower moving member 352L2 interfering with the apparatus main body 170, particularly the separation control member 196L, and making insertion or removal impossible.

[0260] <Example 4> Next, Example 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 58 to 66.

[0261] In this embodiment, the configurations and operations different from those of the foregoing embodiments will be mainly described, and the descriptions of the same configurations and operations will be omitted. For the configurations corresponding to those of the foregoing embodiments, the same reference numerals or the first half of the numerals will be changed, and the reference numerals will be assigned so that the second half of the numerals and the English letters are the same. Note that the spacer 651L has the same configuration as the spacer 151L.

[0262] [Configuration of the moving member] First, the configuration of the moving member will be described by taking the non-driven side as an example. FIG. 58 is a diagram for explaining the disassembling and assembling of the non-driven side moving member 652L described in Embodiment 6. In this Embodiment 6, the moving member corresponding to the moving member 152L in Embodiment 1 is configured to avoid the separation control member 196L in the longitudinal direction (Y1, Y2 directions) as the process cartridge 600 is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body 170 as shown in FIG. 62. The Y1 and Y2 directions are directions parallel to the rotation axis M1 of the photosensitive drum 104 and the rotation axis M2 of the developing roller 106 in Embodiment 1. The insertion and removal of the moving member while avoiding the separation control member 196L will be described later.

[0263] As shown in FIG. 58, the specific configuration of the moving member 652L is a two-part configuration of an upper moving member 652L1 and a lower moving member 652L2. FIG. 58(a) shows the state before the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2 are assembled. FIGS. 58(b) and (c) show the state after the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2 are assembled. A pair of oblong holes 652L1h are provided in a portion of the upper moving member 652L1 that overlaps with the lower moving member 652L2 and the process cartridge in the direction of insertion and removal (directions X1 and X2, see FIG. 62) into the main body of the image forming apparatus, so as to face each other in the X1 and X2 directions. A shaft 652L2a is provided on the lower moving member 652L2. Further, as shown in FIG. 48(a), the lower moving member 652L2 includes a protruding portion 652Lh that can protrude in the ZA direction from the developing unit, and a first force receiving portion (retreating force receiving portion, separating force receiving portion) 652Lk and a second force receiving portion (contacting force receiving portion) 652Ln are provided on the protruding portion 652Lh. A compression spring 652Lsp is provided between the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2. One end of the compression spring 652Lsp is supported by the upper holding portion 652L1d of the upper moving member 652L1, and the other end is seated on the seating surface 652L2c of the lower holding portion 652L2b, and then assembled so that the shaft 652L2a fits into the oblong hole 652L1h.

[0264] When assembling the moving member 652L in such a way that the shaft 652L2a fits into the oblong hole 652L1h, since the tip portion 652L1a of the upper moving member 652L1 is widened during assembly, a plastic material is good. Incidentally, when the moving member 652L is made of a hard material, the shaft 652L2a and the lower moving member 652L2 may be configured separately. For example, the shaft 652L2a may be press-fitted into the lower moving member 652L2 and assembled at the end.

[0265] FIG. 59 is a perspective view of the two-part configuration of the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2. (The compression spring 652Lsp is not shown) The upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2 of the assembled moving member 652L can be in the following two states. One is the state shown in FIGS. 58(b) and 59(a), where the shaft 652L2a of the lower moving member 652L2 is at a position away from the upper holding portion 652L1d with respect to the center of the oval hole 652L1h of the upper holding portion 652L1d. The other is the state shown in FIGS. 58(c) and 59(b), where the shaft 652L2a of the lower moving member 652L2 is at a position close to the upper holding portion 652L1d with respect to the center of the oval hole 652L1h of the upper holding portion 652L1d.

[0266] In the state where the shaft 652L2a shown in FIGS. 58(b) and 59(a) is at a position away from the upper holding portion 652L1d with respect to the center of the oval hole 652L1h, the lower moving member 652L2 supports only the shaft 652L2a with respect to the upper moving member 652L1 and can swing in the directions of arrows Y3 and Y4 around the shaft 652L2a (free state). This free state is maintained such that the lower moving member 652L2 supports only the shaft 652L2a and can swing with respect to the upper moving member 652L1 by the force of a compression spring 652Lsp provided, for example, between the seating surfaces 652L2c of the upper holding portion 652L1d and the lower holding portion 652L2b of the upper moving member 652L1 described above.

[0267] In the state where the shaft 652L2a shown in FIGS. 58(c) and 59(b) is at a position close to the upper holding portion 652L1d with respect to the center of the oval hole 652L1h, the tip portion 652L1a of the upper moving member 652L1 enters the square hole portion 652L2h, and the swinging of the lower moving member 652L2 around the shaft 652L2a is restricted (locked state). This locked state is a configuration when the upper moving member 652L1 described later is pressed by the image forming apparatus main body, and the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2 become integral.

[0268] [Explanation of the operation of the moving member] Next, the operation of the moving member 652L will be described with reference to FIGS. 60(a) to (d). As described in the first embodiment, after the process cartridge 600 is completely inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 170, the moving member 652L is pressed by the cartridge pressing unit 190 in conjunction with the operation of closing the front door 11. The operation of the moving member 652L at that time will be described. FIGS. 60(a) and (b) and FIG. 61(a) show a free state as described in FIGS. 58(b) and 59(a), in which the moving member 652L is not pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 in the image forming apparatus main body. FIGS. 60(c) and (d) and FIG. 61(b) show a locked state as shown in FIGS. 58(c) and 59(b), in which the moving member 652L is pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 in the image forming apparatus main body.

[0269] First, with reference to FIGS. 60(a) and (b), a state where the applying member 652L is not pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (free state) will be described. In the process cartridge 600, the upper moving member 652L1 is movably engaged with the swing shaft HE of the bearing 627 by fitting the oblong hole 652L1h2 thereto, and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole and in the ZA direction, and is swingable about the shaft HE. At this time, the lower moving member 652L2 is swingable about the shaft portion 652L2a with respect to the upper moving member 652L1 as described above.

[0270] In this swingable state (free state), when the lower moving member 652L2 is inserted into and removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus described later, engagement with the separation control member 196L that engages with the moving member described in the first embodiment is avoided. For example, as shown in FIG. 63, which is an enlarged view of the seating surface 652L2c portion shown in FIGS. 60(b) and 60(b), the lower moving member 652L2 receives the biasing force of the compression spring 652Lsp and thus holds and avoids a state of swinging in the Y3 direction with respect to the upper moving member 652L1. For this purpose, the seating surface 652L2c of the lower moving member 652L2 faces the surface that faces the upper holding portion 652L1d of the upper moving member 652L1 in a state where the lower moving member 652L2 swings in the Y3 direction. As a result, a moment acts in the Y3 direction about the shaft portion 652L2a with respect to the lower moving member 652L2 so that the seating surface 652L2c faces the upper holding portion 652L1d due to the elastic force of the compression spring 652Lsp provided between the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2, thereby maintaining the swung state.

[0271] Next, with reference to FIGS. 60(c) and 60(d), the operation of the state in which the moving member 652L is pushed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 (locked state) will be described.

[0272] The upper moving member 652L1 moves toward the lower moving member 652L2 against the spring 652Lsp by pushing down the cartridge pressing mechanism 190. The lower moving member 652L2 is biased in the direction in which the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 is pushed down when the shaft 652L2a abuts against the arc-shaped guide rib 627g of the bearing 627. Then, as shown in FIGS. 60(c), (d) and FIG. 61(b), the tip 652L1a of the upper moving member 652L1 that has moved toward the lower moving member 652L2 enters the square hole portion 652L2h, so that the lower moving member 652L2 swings about the shaft 652L2a, and the upper moving member 652L1 and the lower moving member 652L2 become integral as described above. In this state, as shown in FIG. 60(c), the integrated moving member 652L swings in the X4 direction and the X5 direction with a rotation radius Rx about the moving member swing axis HE as the center of rotation. In this state, when a force is received by the first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 652Lk, the moving member 652L rotates in the X4 direction and the separation pressing portion 652Lq presses the arc-shaped guide rib 627g that is the pressed portion at the time of separation of the bearing 627. As a result, the developing unit 109 can be moved in the direction from the developing position to the retreat position. In this state, when a force is received by the second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 652Ln, the moving member 652L rotates in the X5 direction and the contact pressing portion 652Lr presses the contact pressed portion 621Le of the spacer 651L. As a result, the spacer 651L can be moved from the regulation position (first position) to the allowable position (second position). When the moving member 652L is in the locked state as described above, it is a transmissible state in which the forces received by the first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 652Lk and the second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 652Ln can be transmitted to the separation pressing portion 652Lq and the contact pressing portion 652Lr.

[0273] Details will be described later, but in the state of being pushed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190, the moving member 652L can move in the same manner as the moving member 152L in the first embodiment. Note that the spacer (holding member) 651L is biased to rotate clockwise by a biasing member 153 (not shown in this embodiment for simplicity) at the 651Lf portion by the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

[0274] [Mounting of the Process Cartridge to the Image Forming Apparatus Main Body] Next, the operation of the moving member 652L when inserting the process cartridge in the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 62(a) to (d). FIG. 62(a) is a view showing a state in the longitudinal direction during the insertion and removal of the process cartridge 600 into and from the image forming apparatus main body 170. FIG. 62(b) is a view showing a state in the insertion direction during the insertion and removal of the process cartridge 600 into and from the image forming apparatus main body 170. FIG. 62(c) is a view showing a state in the longitudinal direction with the front door 11 closed before the process cartridge 600 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 170. FIG. 62(d) is a view showing a state in the insertion direction with the front door 11 closed before the process cartridge 600 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 170. As described above, in a state where the upper moving member 652L1 is not pushed (free state), as shown in FIG. 58(b), the lower moving member 652L2 can swing about the shaft portion 652L2a as the rotation center.

[0275] As shown in FIGS. 62(a) and (b), when inserting or removing a cartridge tray 171 (not shown) with the process cartridge 600 mounted into or from the image forming apparatus main body 170 in the direction of arrow X1 or X2, the tip side portion of the lower moving member 652L2 is inserted or removed in a state of being retracted in the longitudinal direction (Y1 direction) with respect to the separation control member 196L. This is because the lower moving member 652L2 is held in the states shown in FIGS. 58(b) and 59(a) by the action of the compression spring 652Lsp.

[0276] However, it is not necessarily required that the portion on the tip side of the lower moving member 652L2 be held in a state of being retracted in the longitudinal direction (Y1 direction). Another configuration is shown in FIG. 64. FIG. 64(a) is a view showing the state of the process cartridge 600 being inserted into and removed from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 64(b) is a view showing the state of the process cartridge 600 being inserted into and removed from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus in the insertion direction. FIG. 64(c) is a Q-Q cross-sectional view of the state shown in FIG. 64(b). FIG. 64(d) is a Q-Q cross-sectional view of the state where the process cartridge 600 is further inserted in the X1 direction from the state shown in FIG. 64(c).

[0277] In the configuration shown in FIG. 64, the slope 653L2d of the lower moving member 653L2 is made to collide with the separation control member 196L, and from the state where the separation control member 196L and the lower moving member 653L2 overlap in the Y1 and Y2 directions by the force in the insertion and removal directions (X1, X2 directions), when the lower moving member 653L2 comes into contact with the separation control member 196L shown in FIG. 64(d), the portion on the tip side of the lower moving member 652L2 may be configured to retract in the longitudinal direction (Y1 direction). Thus, when the process cartridge 600 is inserted into and removed from the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus, the moving member 652L is in a free state.

[0278] Note that in this embodiment, the description is about the process cartridge used in a color image forming apparatus. Therefore, there are four process cartridges and four separation control members. Therefore, depending on the station, the operation shown in FIG. 62 is repeated up to four times at most.

[0279] Next, as shown in FIGS. 62(c) and (d), when the process cartridge 600 is inserted into the main body 170 of the image forming apparatus and the front door 11 is closed, the moving member 652L is pushed downward in the direction of arrow Z2 by the cartridge pressing mechanism 190 as described above. As a result, the lower moving member 652L2, which was swingable, becomes non-swingable with respect to the upper moving member 652L1, and they are integrated (locked state). The moving member in this state serves substantially the same role as the moving member 152 shown in the first embodiment.

[0280] [Configuration of the Driving-Side Separation and Contact Mechanism] FIG. 65 is an external view showing the driving-side configuration of the developing unit portion of the process cartridge 600. FIG. 66 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 600. In this embodiment, the configuration has been described using the non-driving-side separation and contact mechanism. However, since the driving-side configuration is the same, a detailed description is omitted. The moving member 652R on the driving side is a member corresponding to the moving member 152R in Embodiment 1, and similar to the moving member 652L on the non-driving side, it has a configuration in which an upper moving member 652R1 and a lower moving member 652R2 are connected.

[0281] [Driving-Side and Non-Driving-Side Separation and Contact Mechanisms] In this embodiment, the moving member 652L is arranged on the non-driving side and the moving member 652R is arranged on the driving side. As another form, a configuration in which only the moving member 652L is provided on the non-driving side may be used. Also, a configuration in which only the moving member 652R is provided on the driving side may be used.

[0282] According to the configuration of this embodiment described above, the same effects as those of Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

[0283] Also, in this embodiment, the lower moving member 652L2 including the first force receiving portion (retreating force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 652Lk and the second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 652Ln is made movable with respect to the upper moving member 652L1 and other portions of the process cartridge 600. In this embodiment, due to this movement, the first force receiving portion 652Lk and the second force receiving portion 652Ln are displaced at least in the Y1 direction (a direction parallel to the rotation axes M1 and M2 in Embodiment 1). And the part moving member 652L2 can be switched between a movable state (free state) and a state fixed to the upper moving member 652L1 (locked state) according to the position of the upper moving member 652L1. Thereby, when inserting or removing the process cartridge 600 into or from the apparatus main body 170, by taking the above free state, it is possible to avoid the lower moving member 652L2 interfering with the apparatus main body 170, particularly the separation control member 196L, and preventing insertion or removal.

[0284] <Example 5> Next, Example 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 67 to 72.

[0285] In this embodiment, the configurations and operations different from those of the foregoing embodiments will be mainly described, and the descriptions of the same configurations and operations will be omitted. Also, for the configurations corresponding to those of the foregoing embodiments, the same reference numerals or the first half of the numerals are changed, and the reference numerals are assigned so that the second half of the numerals and the English letters are the same.

[0286] In this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the moving member 452 of the separation contact mechanism of the process cartridge 400 operates without moving from the storage position to the protruding position in the developing unit 109. Although the moving member does not move from the storage position to the protruding position, the same operation is performed by the vertical movement of the developing unit 109 or the process cartridge 400. When the image forming apparatus main body 170 is installed on a horizontal plane, the vertical directions are the Z1 direction and the Z2 direction.

[0287] [Configuration of Process Cartridge 400] The process cartridge 400 has a separation contact mechanism 450R on the driving side and a separation contact mechanism 450L on the non-driving side. First, the details of the separation contact mechanism 450R on the driving side will be described, and then the separation contact mechanism 450L on the non-driving side will be described. Since the separation contact mechanisms on the driving side and the non-driving side have substantially the same functions, an R is added to the end of the reference numerals of each member on the driving side. For the non-driving side, the reference numerals of each member are the same as those on the driving side, and an L is added to the end.

[0288] FIG. 67 shows an assembled perspective view of the drive side of the process cartridge 400 including the separation contact mechanism 450R. The separation contact mechanism 450R includes a spacer 151R which is a regulating member (holding member), a moving member 452R which is a pressing member, and a tension spring 153. The moving member 452R is provided with a support receiving portion 452Ra which is a round through hole. Further, as shown in FIG. 69, the moving member 452R includes a protruding portion 452Rh which can protrude in the ZA direction from the developing unit, and a first force receiving portion (retreating force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 452Rk and a second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 452Rn are provided on the protruding portion 452Rh. The moving member 452R is swingably attached to the second retaining portion 428m of the developing cover member 428.

[0289] The developing support member 401R is attached to the end face of the developing cover member 428. The developing support member 401R is provided with a support cylinder 410Ra, a support spring receiving portion 401b, and a positioning receiving portion 401Rc. The developing support member 401R is attached such that the inner surface of the support cylinder 401Ra fits with the cylindrical portion 428b of the developing cover member 428. Further, the outer surface of the support cylinder 401Ra is movably supported in the ZA direction in the developing unit support hole 416a of the drive side cartridge cover member 416 which forms a part of the drum frame of the drum unit 408. Further, a slide guide 401Re is provided on the developing support member 401R. The slide guide 401Re fits with a guide protrusion 416e provided on the drive side cartridge cover member 416, and is positioned in a correct posture by being restricted to move in the groove direction. The slide guide 401Re is a groove parallel to the ZA direction in which the developing unit 409 described later moves up and down. The support method will be described in more detail later.

[0290] One end of the developing support spring 402 is attached to the drive side cartridge cover member 416. The other end side of the developing support spring 402 is disposed at a position in contact with the support spring receiving portion 401Rb of the assembled developing support member 401R. Thereby, the developing support spring 402 applies a force to lift the developing support member 401R in the reverse direction of the ZA direction with respect to the drive side cartridge cover member 416.

[0291] FIG. 68 shows an assembled perspective view of the non-driven side of the process cartridge 400 including the separation contact mechanism 450L. The assembled state of the separation contact mechanism 450L will be described.

[0292] The non-driven side bearing member 427 is fixed to the developing frame 125 and rotatably supports the developing roller 106 and the toner conveying roller 107. The non-driven side bearing member 427 has a support cylindrical portion 427a for supporting the developing support member 401L, a support portion 427b for supporting the spacer 151L, and a support portion 427f for supporting the moving member 452L. As shown in FIG. 70, the moving member 452R is provided with a protruding portion 452Lh that can protrude from the developing unit in the ZA direction, and the protruding portion 452Rh is provided with a first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) 452Lk and a second force receiving portion (contact force receiving portion) 452Ln.

[0293] The developing support member 401L is supported by fitting the long oval hole 401Lb into the support cylindrical portion 427a of the non-driven side bearing member 427. This long oval hole is provided in the non-driven side support portion 401Lb to allow for misalignment due to manufacturing errors between the driving side and the non-driven side at the location where the developing unit 409 is supported.

[0294] The developing support member 401L is provided with a cylindrical portion 401La so as to cover the long oval hole 401Lb. The cylindrical portion 401La is supported by the developing unit support hole 417a of the non-driven side cartridge cover member 417.

[0295] In addition, the developing support member 401L is provided with a guide protrusion 401Le. The guide protrusion 401Le is fitted with a groove-shaped slide guide 417e provided on the non-driven side cartridge cover member 417, and is positioned in the correct posture by being restricted to move in the longitudinal direction (ZA direction) of the groove. The slide guide 417e is a groove parallel to the ZA direction in which the developing unit 409 described later moves up and down. The support method will be described in more detail later.

[0296] The developing support member 401L obtains a lifting force in the direction of arrow Z1 upward with respect to the non-driving side cartridge cover member 417 by the developing support spring 402.

[0297] FIG. 69 shows a side view of the process cartridge 400 as viewed from the driving side, and FIG. 70 shows a side view as viewed from the non-driving side.

[0298] The mechanism on the driving side in the assembled state will be described with reference to FIG. 69.

[0299] In the developing unit 409, the support cylinder 401Ra of the developing support member 401R is supported by the developing unit support hole 416a of the driving side cartridge cover member 416. The developing unit support hole 416a is an oblong hole in the direction of arrow ZA. Thereby, the developing support member 401R can move in the ZA direction and the opposite direction in the developing unit support hole 416a. The developing support spring 402 is shown by a broken line in a perspective view. The developing support spring 402 pushes up the spring receiving portion 401b of the developing support member 401R in the direction opposite to the ZA direction. Since the developing support member 401R that supports the developing unit 409 is pushed up in the direction opposite to the ZA direction, the developing unit 409 is lifted in the direction opposite to the ZA direction in the driving side cartridge cover member 416.

[0300] In this figure, with the process cartridge 400 outside the apparatus main body 170, the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are separated. Similar to other embodiments, the spacer 151R abuts against the contact surface 416c of the driving side cartridge cover member 416 to restrict the developing unit 109 from approaching the photosensitive drum.

[0301] The mechanism on the non - driving side in the assembled state will be described with reference to FIG. 70. The support cylinder 401La of the developing support member 401L is supported by the developing unit support hole 417a of the non - driving side cartridge cover member 417. The developing unit support hole 417a movably supports the support cylinder 402La by two surfaces 417a1 and 417a2 parallel to the ZA direction, which is the same as the long - hole direction of the support hole 416a on the driving side. Also, the movement amount of the developing support member 401L is restricted by the lower regulating surface 417a3. The non - driving side cartridge cover member 417 movably supports the developing support member 410L in the ZA direction and the opposite direction by the developing unit support hole 417a.

[0302] The developing support spring 402L pushes up the support spring receiving portion 401Lb of the developing support member 401L in the direction opposite to the ZA direction. Since the developing support member 401L that supports the developing unit 409 is pushed up in the direction opposite to the ZA direction, the developing unit 409 is lifted in the direction opposite to the ZA direction inside the non - driving side cartridge cover member 417.

[0303] [Operation when mounting the process cartridge on the apparatus main body] Next, the operation when mounting the process cartridge 400 on the apparatus main body 170 will be described with reference to FIG. 71. FIG. 71 is a side view of the process cartridge 400 and the components of the apparatus main body 170 related to the mounting, as seen from the driving side. FIG. 71(a) shows the process cartridge 400 being mounted while moving in the direction of arrow X1 between the pressing mechanism 191 of the apparatus main body 170 above and the developing separation control unit 195 below. Since the operating mechanism of the pressing mechanism 191 (the mechanism that moves in the Z1 and Z2 directions in conjunction with the opening and closing of the front door 11) is the same as that in the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The moving member 452R has advanced to in front of the separation control member 196R. The process cartridge 400 moves while being placed on the tray 171 shown in FIG. 5. For simplicity of the drawing, the entire tray 171 is not shown, and only the portion that supports the driving side cartridge cover member 416 is shown by a dashed line.

[0304] FIG. 71(b) shows a state where the process cartridge 400 is moving in the X1 direction and the moving member 452R is above the separation control member 196. In the process from FIG. 71(a) to FIG. 71(b), the moving member 452R is lifted in the direction of arrow Z1 together with the developing unit 409 to the storage position (standby position), so it does not collide with the separation control member 196R.

[0305] FIG. 71(c) shows a state where the process cartridge 400 has advanced to the mounting position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 170 in the X1 direction. And it shows a state where the pressing mechanism 191 has started to press the pressed portion 401Rc of the developing support member 401 in the direction of arrow Z2. When the developing support member 401 is pushed at least in the Z2 direction by the pressing mechanism 191, the entire developing unit 409 moves in the ZA direction (predetermined direction), and the moving member 452R also moves in the ZA direction (predetermined direction) and reaches the protruding position (operating position) where it enters the space 196Rd of the separation control member 196. At this time, the developing support spring 402 described in FIG. 69 is compressed by the force from the pressing mechanism 191. And the developing support member 401 moves in the ZA direction along the oval hole of the developing unit support hole 416a. The ZA direction is a direction orthogonal to the X1 direction.

[0306] FIG. 71(d) shows a state after the pressing mechanism 191 has further moved in the direction of arrow Z2 from the state of FIG. 71(c). The pressing mechanism 191 presses and pushes down the positioning receiving portion 410Rc of the developing support member 401 in the direction of arrow Z2. As a result, the entire developing unit 409 is pushed down in the direction of arrow ZA, and the moving member 452R enters the space 196Rd of the separation control member 196. In this state, the mounting of the process cartridge 400 to the apparatus main body 170 is completed.

[0307] At this time, the spring force of the developing support spring 402 in the direction opposite to the ZA direction is set lower than the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 191. Also, although it is desirable to arrange the spring so that the developing support spring 402 expands and contracts in the ZA direction, if the spring force is set appropriately, an arrangement that expands and contracts in other directions including the ZA direction component can also be selected.

[0308] When removing the process cartridge 400 from the apparatus main body 170, the operation is the reverse of the above-described mounting operation, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0309] [Contact and Separation Operations of the Developing Unit] The operations of the developing unit 109 of the mounted process cartridge 400 coming into contact with and separating from the photosensitive drum will be described with reference to FIG. 72.

[0310] FIG. 72 is a side view as seen from the drive side, with the pressing mechanism 191 not shown in FIG. 71.

[0311] FIG. 72(a) is a diagram for explaining the operation for bringing the developing unit 109 into contact with the photosensitive drum. When the separation control member 196R moves in the direction of arrow W42, the moving member 452R is pushed and moves. At this time, the moving member 452R swings in the direction of arrow BC about the support receiving portion 452Ra which is a round hole. The spacer 151R is pushed by the swung moving member 452R and swings in the direction of arrow B2. The spacer 151R moves away from the contact surface 416c and enters the second restricting surface 416d to eliminate the distance restriction between the photosensitive drum and the developing unit 109 and bring the developing unit 409 into a contact state.

[0312] FIG. 72(b) is a diagram showing the state where the developing unit 109 is in contact with the photosensitive drum. The separation control member 196R that has moved in the direction of W42 in FIG. 72(a) has returned in the direction of W41 again. Since the space 196Rd is set wide, the separation control member 196R and the moving member 452R do not come into contact. The moving member 452R maintains the above-described contact state.

[0313] Figure 72(c) is a diagram for explaining the operation when the developing unit 109 is separated again. When the separation control member 196R further moves in the W41 direction from the state of Figure 72(b), the separation control member 196R comes into contact with the moving member 452R. Then, the moving member 452R swings in the direction of arrow BD and comes into contact with the developing cover member 428. When the moving member 452R is further rotated in the BD direction after contacting the developing cover member 428, the entire developing unit 109 swings to a separated state. At this time, the moving member 452R and the spacer 151R are connected by a tension spring 153 and rotate in the direction of arrow B1. The rotated spacer 151R abuts against the contact surface 416c to regulate the developing unit 109 in a separated state. After that, when the separation control member 196R moves in the W42 direction and returns to Figure 71(d), the developing unit 109 maintains the separated state without receiving the force of the separation control member 196R.

[0314] According to the configuration of the present embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0315] Also, in the present embodiment, the moving member 425 provided with the first force receiving portions 452Rk and 452Lk and the second force receiving portions 452Rn and 452Ln is configured to move between the storage position (standby position) and the protruding position (operating position) integrally with the developing unit 409. By this movement, the first force receiving portions 452Rk and 452Lk are at least displaced in the directions VD1 (Figure 40 etc.), VD10 (Figure 236 etc.), VD12 (Figure 238), and VD14 (Figure 239). With such a configuration, it is also possible to avoid the moving member 42 interfering with the apparatus main body 170, particularly the separation control member 196L, when the process cartridge 400 is inserted into or removed from the apparatus main body 170.

[0316] <Another form of Embodiment 5> Regarding a configuration in which, in the separation contact mechanism of the process cartridge 430 using yet another configuration, the moving member, which is a pressing member, operates without moving from the storage position (standby position) to the protruding position (operating position) inside the developing unit 109, will be described with reference to Figures 73 to 78.

[0317] The configuration described here is such that when the process cartridge 430 is attached to the apparatus main body 170, the process cartridge 430 retracts in a direction orthogonal to the attachment direction and finally engages with the separation control member 196.

[0318] The characteristic configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 73. FIG. 73(a) shows a side view of the process cartridge 430 in this configuration as viewed from the driving side. The support configuration of the developing unit 439 is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment. That is, the cylindrical portion 428b of the developing cover member 428 is rotatably supported by the developing unit support hole 431Ra of the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R. Here, the developing unit support hole 431Ra is cylindrical. Therefore, in this alternative form, unlike the configuration of the fifth embodiment, the developing unit 439 cannot move in the Z2 direction with respect to the driving-side cartridge cover member (drum frame body) 431R and the drum unit 438 except for movement due to play.

[0319] Compression coil springs (elastic members) are attached to the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R at two locations. One is the first driving-side support spring 435R provided in the rotation-determining recess 431KR of the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R. The spring 435R has a tip portion 435Ra at its lower end side. The other is the second driving-side support spring 434R attached to the driving-side support spring attachment portion 431MR. The spring 434R has a tip portion 434Ra at its lower end side.

[0320] FIG. 73(b) shows a side view of the process cartridge 430 as seen from the non-driving side. The non-driving side cartridge cover member 431L rotatably supports the developing unit 409 in the same manner as in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment. Compression coil springs (elastic members) are attached to the non-driving side cartridge cover member 431L at two locations. One is the first non-driving side support spring 435L provided in the rotation determining recess 431KL of the non-driving side cartridge cover member 431L. The spring 435L has a tip portion 435La at its lower end side. The other is the second non-driving side support spring 434L attached to the non-driving side support spring attachment portion 431ML. The spring 434L has a tip portion 434La at its lower end side.

[0321] These tip portions 434Ra, 435Ra, 434La, and 435La are supported portions that contact and are supported by the tray 171. Also, these tip portions 434Ra, 435Ra, 434La, and 435La are support portions that movably support the driving side cartridge cover member 431R and the non-driving side cartridge cover member 431L, which form part of the drum frame body (first frame body), in the Z2 direction. Here, the developing unit 409 (or the developing frame body) (second frame body) is supported by the drum frame body. Therefore, it can be said that these tip portions 434Ra, 435Ra, 434La, and 435La movably support the developing unit 409 (or the developing frame body) in the Z2 direction via the drum frame body.

[0322] Next, with reference to FIG. 74, the relative positions of the first driving side support spring 435R, the second driving side support spring 434R, and the tray 171 when the process cartridge 430 is mounted on the tray 171 will be described. FIG. 74 shows the process cartridge 430 being moved in the Z2 direction indicated by the arrow during the process of mounting it on the tray 171. In this state, the process cartridge 430 is still movable in the Z2 direction and is not positioned on the tray 171.

[0323] The first driving-side support spring 435R provided on the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R is supported by having its tip 435Ra contact the rotation-determining convex portion (first spring support portion) 171KR of the tray 171 when the process cartridge 430 is further advanced in the Z2 direction. Also, the second driving-side support spring 434R is supported by having its tip 434Ra contact the spring receiving portion (second spring support portion) 471MR of the tray 171 when the process cartridge 430 is advanced in the Z2 direction.

[0324] On the other hand, also on the non-driving side, the tip 435La of the first non-driving-side support spring 435L is supported by contacting a rotation-determining convex portion (third spring support portion), not shown, of the tray 17. Also, the tip 434La of the second non-driving-side support spring 434L is supported by contacting a spring receiving portion (fourth spring support portion), not shown, of the tray 17.

[0325] [Operation when mounting the process cartridge on the apparatus main body] Next, the process from the state where the process cartridge 430 is placed on the tray 171 until it is positioned at a position where image formation is performed in the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described with reference to FIGS. 75 to 78. FIGS. 75 to 78 show side views as seen from the driving side. In these figures, for simplicity, components other than those relevant for explaining the state are not shown. Since the non-driving side has the same configuration as the driving side and performs the same operations, the description thereof is omitted.

[0326] FIG. 75 shows a state where the process cartridge 430 placed on the tray 171 has advanced in the direction of arrow X1 together with the tray 171. As described with reference to FIG. 74, the tip 435Ra of the first driving-side support spring 435R is in contact with the rotation-determining convex portion 171KR of the tray 171. Also, the tip 434Ra of the second driving-side support spring 434R is in contact with the spring receiving portion 471MR of the tray 171.

[0327] The first driving-side support spring 435R and the second driving-side support spring 434R support the drum frame and the developing frame portions of the process cartridge 430 against gravity by being supported by the tray 171. As a result, the arc 431VR, which is the positioned portion provided on the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R of the process cartridge 430, does not contact the linear portions 171VR1 and 171VR2, which are the positioning portions of the tray 171, leaving a gap G4. That is, the process cartridge 430 is supported in the Z1 direction with respect to the positioning portion of the tray 171 by the first driving-side support spring 435R and the second driving-side support spring 434R. For this reason, when the process cartridge 430 moves in the arrow X1 direction when the tray 171 is inserted into the apparatus main body 170, the moving member 452R can pass without colliding with the separation control member 196R. It can be said that the moving member 452R is in the stored position (standby position). At this time, the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 is in a standby state with a gap G5 from the top surface 431Rc of the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R.

[0328] FIG. 76 shows a state in which, in conjunction with closing the front door 11, the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 moves in the arrow Z2 direction and contacts the top surface 431Rc of the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R. The first driving-side support spring 435R and the second driving-side support spring 434R have not yet received a force from the cartridge pressing mechanism 191, and the process cartridge 430 has not moved. FIG. 77 shows a state in which the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 further moves in the arrow Z2 direction and starts to push the top surface 431Rc of the driving-side cartridge cover member 431R in the Z2 direction. The process cartridge 430 moves in the ZA direction, and the first driving-side support spring 435R and the second driving-side support spring 434R are compressed. The arc 431VR, which is the positioning portion between the process cartridge 430 and the tray 171, approaches, but does not contact the linear portions 171VR1 and 171VR2 of the tray, leaving a gap G6. The moving member 452R enters the space 196Rd of the separation control member 196R due to the movement of the process cartridge 430 in the ZA direction.

[0329] FIG. 78 further shows a state in which the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 has moved in the direction of arrow Z2 and the process cartridge 430 is positioned on the tray 171.

[0330] Due to the movement of the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 in the Z2 direction, the process cartridge 430 moves in the ZA direction, and finally the arc 431VR contacts the straight portions 171VR1 and 171VR2 of the tray 171. Thereby, the position of the process cartridge 430 in the Z2 direction with respect to the tray 171 is determined. The moving member 452R has finally entered the space 196Rd of the separation control member 196R due to the movement of the process cartridge 430 in the Z2 direction. At this time, it can be said that the moving member 425R is in the protruding position (operating position). Therefore, by moving the separation control member 196R, the moving member 452R can be moved to switch the contact state and separation state of the process cartridge 430.

[0331] The ZA direction (the direction in which the moving member 425R moves from the standby position to the operating position) in which the process cartridge 430 moves when pressed by the cartridge pressing mechanism 191 moving in the direction of arrow Z2 does not have to be parallel to the direction of arrow Z2. That is, the ZA direction may include at least a component in a direction orthogonal to the X1 direction.

[0332] The spring forces (biasing forces) of the first driving-side support spring 435R and the second driving-side support spring 434R in the state where the arc 431VR contacts the straight portions 171VR1 and 171VR2 are set to be smaller than the force of the cartridge pressing mechanism 191. Therefore, the process cartridge 430 can be surely positioned with respect to the tray 171.

[0333] Since the operation after the completion of mounting is the same as the operation described with reference to FIG. 72, the description is omitted.

[0334] The operation for removing the process cartridge 430 from the apparatus main body 170 is the reverse of the above-described mounting operation, and thus the description is omitted.

[0335] According to the configuration of this alternative embodiment described above, the same effects as those of Example 1 can be obtained.

[0336] Also, in this alternative embodiment, the moving member 425 provided with the first force receiving portions 452Rk and 452Lk and the second force receiving portions 452Rn and 452Ln is configured to move between an integrated storage position (standby position) and a protruding position (operating position) with the drum unit 438 and the developing unit 439 (drum frame body and developing frame body). By this movement, the first force receiving portions 452Rk and 452Lk and the second force receiving portions 452Rn and 452Ln are displaced at least in the directions VD1 (FIG. 40 etc.), VD10 (FIG. 236 etc.), VD12 (FIG. 238), and VD14 (FIG. 239). With such a configuration as well, it is possible to avoid the moving member 42 interfering with the apparatus main body 170, particularly the separation control member 196L, when the process cartridge 430 is inserted into or withdrawn from the apparatus main body 170.

[0337] <Example 6> In this embodiment, mainly the configuration and operation different from those of the above-described embodiments will be described, and the description of the same configuration and operation will be omitted. Also, for the configuration corresponding to the above-described embodiments, the same reference numerals or the first half of the numerals are changed so that the second half of the numerals and the alphabets are the same. In this embodiment, in the separation contact mechanism of the process cartridge, a configuration in which the moving member applies a force to the spacer without being pressed by the component on the main body side will be described.

[0338] Specific descriptions will be given regarding the [configuration of the separation contact mechanism], [contact operation of the developing unit], [separation operation of the developing unit], and [attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body] of this embodiment. Since the configurations of the other process cartridges are the same as those of the above-described embodiments, they are omitted here.

[0339] [Configuration of the separation contact mechanism] The configuration in which the photosensitive drum 104 of the process cartridge 1400 and the developing roller 106 of the developing unit 1409 in this embodiment are separated and brought into contact will be described in detail. The process cartridge has a separation / contact mechanism 1450R on the driving side and a separation / contact mechanism 1450L on the non-driving side (FIG. 79). FIG. 80 shows an assembled perspective view of the driving side of the developing unit 1409 including the separation / contact mechanism 1450R. FIG. 81 shows an assembled perspective view of the non-driving side of the developing unit 1409 including the separation / contact mechanism 550L. Here, the details of the separation / contact mechanism 1450R on the driving side will be described. Since the separation / contact mechanisms on the driving side and the non-driving side have substantially the same functions, the symbol R is added to the reference numerals of each member on the driving side. For the non-driving side, the reference numerals of each member are the same as those on the driving side, and L is described instead of R. Then, the configuration and operation on the driving side will be described as a representative, and the description of the configuration and operation on the non-driving side will be omitted.

[0340] The separation / contact mechanism 1450R includes a spacer 1451R which is a regulating member (holding member), a moving member 1452R which is a pressing member, and a tension spring 1453.

[0341] The spacer 1451R has an annular supported portion 1451Ra, a contact surface (contact portion) 1451Rc that contacts the contact surface (contact portion) 1416c of the cartridge cover 1416, a spring hanging portion 1451Rg that engages with the tension spring 1453, and a second pressed surface 1451Re that engages with the moving member 1452R. Further, it is rotatably held by the first support portion 1428c of the developing cover member 1428. Other configurations are the same as those in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.

[0342] The moving member 1452R is rotatably held with the support receiving portion 1452Ra of the moving member 1452R engaged with the third support portion 1428m of the developing cover member 1428. The moving member 1452R has a first force receiving surface 1452Rm and a second force receiving surface 1452Rp that can engage with a separation control member 196R installed on the apparatus main body 170, a spring hanging portion 1452Rs that engages with a tension spring 1453, and a second pressing surface 1452Rr that engages with a spacer 1451R. The first force receiving surface 1452Rm and the second force receiving surface 1452Rp respectively constitute a first force receiving portion (retreat force receiving portion, separation force receiving portion) and a second force receiving portion (contact force imparting portion) in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0343] Also, as shown in FIG. 82, similar to the first embodiment described above, the tension spring 1453 biases the spacer 1451R in the B1 direction with the first support portion 1428c of the developing cover member 1428 as the rotation center. Further, the moving member 1452R is biased in the CA direction with the third support portion 1428m of the developing cover member 1428 as the rotation center.

[0344] [Contact operation of the developing unit] Next, the operation in which the photosensitive drum 104 and the developing roller 106 come into contact with each other by the separation contact mechanism 1450R will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 82 to 85. These figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 1428 is partially omitted for the purpose of explanation.

[0345] In the configuration of this embodiment, the developing input coupling 132 receives a driving force from the image forming apparatus main body 170 in the direction of arrow V2 in FIG. 82, and the developing roller 106 rotates. That is, the developing unit 1409 having the developing input coupling 132 receives torque in the direction of arrow V2 from the image forming apparatus main body 170. As shown in FIG. 82, when the developing unit 1409 is in the separated position and the spacer 1451R is in the separated holding position (restricting position, first position), even if the developing unit 1409 receives this torque and the biasing force by the developing pressure spring 134 described later, the contact surface 1451Rc of the spacer 1451R contacts the surface to be contacted 1416c of the driving side cartridge cover member 1416, and the posture of the developing unit 1409 is maintained in the separated position.

[0346] Similar to the above-described Example 1, in this example as well, the image forming apparatus main body 170 has a separation control member 196R corresponding to each process cartridge 1400 as described above. The separation control member 196R protrudes toward the process cartridge 1400 and has a first force application surface 196Ra and a second force application surface 196Rb facing each other through a space 196Rd. The first force application surface 196Ra and the second force application surface 196Rb are connected via a connecting portion 196Rc on the lower surface side of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Further, the separation control member 196R is rotatably supported by a control sheet metal (not shown) about a rotation center 196Re. The separation control member 196R is always biased in the E1 direction by a biasing spring (not shown), and the rotation direction is restricted by a holder (not shown). Also, since the control sheet metal (not shown) is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions from the home position by a control mechanism (not shown), the separation control member 196R is configured to be movable in the W41 and W42 directions.

[0347] When the separation control member 196R moves in the W42 direction, the second force application surface 196Ra of the separation control member 196R and the second force receiving surface 1452Rp of the moving member 1452R come into contact, and the moving member 1452R rotates in the CB direction about the support receiving portion 1452Ra as the rotation center. Further, as the moving member 1452R rotates, the second pressing surface 1452Rr of the moving member 1452R rotates the spacer 1451R in the B2 direction while contacting the second pressed surface 1451Re of the spacer 1451R. Then, the spacer 1451R is rotated by the moving member 1452R to a separation release position (permissible position, second position) where the contact surface 1451Rc and the abutted surface 1416c are separated, and the state shown in FIG. 83 is obtained. Here, the position of the separation control member 196R that moves the spacer 1451R to the separation release position shown in FIG. 83 is referred to as the first position.

[0348] When the spacer 1451R is moved to the separation release position by the separation control member 196R in this way, the developing unit 1409 rotates in the V2 direction by the torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the developing pressure spring 134, and moves to the contact position where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 come into contact (the state shown in FIG. 83). At this time, the spacer 1451R biased in the direction of arrow B1 by the tension spring 1453 is maintained at the separation release position when the second regulated surface 1451Rk comes into contact with the second regulating surface 1416d of the drive side cartridge cover member 1416. Thereafter, the separation control member 196R moves in the W41 direction and returns to the home position. At this time, the moving member 1452R rotates in the CB direction by the tension spring 1453, and shifts to a state where the first pressing surface 1452Rq of the moving member 1452R and the first pressing surface 1428k of the developing cover member 1428 are in contact (see also FIG. 80).

[0349] Thereby, gaps T3 and T4 are formed, and the separation control member 196R is positioned at a position where it does not act on the moving member 1452R. Note that the transition from the state of FIG. 83 to the state of FIG. 84 is performed without delay.

[0350] As described above, in the configuration of this embodiment, when the separation control member 196R moves from the home position to the first position, the moving member 1452R can be rotated to move the spacer 1451R from the separation holding position to the separation release position. As a result, the developing unit 1409 can move from the separation position to the contact position where the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 come into contact. Note that the position of the separation control member 196R in FIG. 84 is the same as the state shown in FIG. 82.

[0351] [Separation operation of developing unit] Next, the operation of moving the developing unit 1409 from the contact position to the separation position by the separation contact mechanism 1450R will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 84 and 85. These figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 1428 is partially omitted for the purpose of explanation.

[0352] In this embodiment, the separation control member 196R is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow W41 in FIG. 84 from the home position. When the separation control member 196R moves in the direction of W41, the first force application surface 196Rb of the separation control member 196R abuts against the first force receiving surface 1452Rm of the moving member 1452R, and the moving member 1452R rotates in the CA direction about the support receiving portion 1452Ra as the rotation center. Then, when the first pressing surface 1452Rq of the moving member 1452R abuts against the first pressing surface 1428k of the developing cover member 1428, the developing unit 1409 rotates in the V1 direction from the contact position (the state shown in FIG. 85).

[0353] The second regulated surface 1451Rk of the spacer 1451R and the second regulating surface 1416d of the drive-side cartridge cover member 1416 are separated from each other, and the spacer 1451R rotates in the direction of arrow B1 by the biasing force of the tension spring 1453. As a result, the spacer 1451R rotates until the second pressed surface 1451Re abuts against the second pressing surface 1452Rr of the moving member 1452R, and by abutting, it shifts to the separation holding position. When the developing unit 1409 is moved from the contact position in the direction of the separation position by the separation control member 196R and the spacer 1451R is located at the separation holding position, a gap T5 is formed between the contact surface 1451Rc and the surface to be contacted 1416c as shown in FIG. 85. Here, the position where the developing unit 1409 shown in FIG. 85 is rotated in the direction of the separation position from the contact position and the spacer 1451R can be moved to the separation holding position is referred to as the second position of the separation control member 196R.

[0354] Then, after that, when the separation control member 196R moves in the direction of arrow W42 and returns from the second position to the home position, while the spacer 1451R maintains the separation holding position, the developing unit 1409 rotates in the direction of arrow V2 by the torque received from the image forming apparatus main body 170 and the developing pressure spring 134, and the contact surface 1451Rc and the surface to be contacted 1416c come into contact. That is, the developing unit 1409 is in a state of maintaining the separated position by the spacer 1451R, and the developing roller 106 and the photosensitive drum 104 are separated from each other (the states in FIGS. 82 and 79). As a result, gaps T3 and T4 are formed, and the separation control member 196R is positioned at a position where it does not act on the moving member 1452R (the state in FIG. 82). The transition from the state of FIG. 85 to the state of FIG. 82 is executed without delay.

[0355] As described above, in the present embodiment configuration, when the separation control member 196R moves from the home position to the second position, the spacer 1451R moves from the separation release position to the separation holding position. Then, when the separation control member 196R returns from the second position to the home position, the developing unit 1409 is in a state of maintaining the separated position by the spacer 1451R.

[0356] [Attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the image forming apparatus main body] Next, with reference to FIGS. 86 to 101, the engagement operation of the separation contact mechanism 1450R of the process cartridge 1400 and the developing separation control unit 196R of the image forming apparatus main body 170 when the process cartridge 1400 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 170 will be described. These figures are cross-sectional views in which a part of the developing cover member 1428 is partially omitted for explanation.

[0357] FIGS. 86 to 89 are views of the process cartridge 1400 as seen from the driving side during the insertion of the cartridge tray 171 from the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 170 to the image forming possible position. In addition, parts other than the process cartridge 1400 and the separation control member 196R are omitted. Views of the process cartridge 1400 as seen from the non-driving side at the same time points as FIGS. 86 to 89 are FIGS. 94 to 97.

[0358] Figures 90 to 92 are diagrams until the process cartridge 1400 is held at a distance by the initial operation of the image forming apparatus, which will be described later, after the tray 171 is inserted. Figure 93 is a view of the process cartridge 1400 and the separation control member 196R, with other components omitted, as seen from the drive side of the process cartridge 1400 while pulling out the cartridge tray 171 from the image forming position to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 170. Figures 98 to 101 are views of the process cartridge 1400 as seen from the non-drive side at the same time points as Figures 90 to 92.

[0359] Note that since the image forming apparatus main body 170 mounts a plurality of process cartridges 1400 to perform image formation, there are separation control members 196R corresponding to the number of process cartridges 1400. For this reason, in the present embodiment, for convenience, a number is given to the end of the separation control member 196R (196L) to distinguish and indicate a plurality of separation control members 196R (196L).

[0360] When inserting the process cartridge 1400 placed on the tray 171 (not shown) as shown in Figure 86 in the direction of X2, which is the direction inside the image forming apparatus main body 170, the second force receiving surface 1452Rp of the moving member 1452R contacts the upstream surface 196R-1p in the insertion direction of the separation control member 196R-1. When fu...

Claims

1. A cartridge, comprising: a photoreceptor; a charging member for charging the photoreceptor; a first unit including the photoreceptor and the charging member; a developing member for attaching toner to the photoreceptor; a driving-force receiving portion that is rotatable in a predetermined direction by receiving a driving force for rotationally driving the photoreceptor or the developing member; a second unit including the developing member, which is movable between a developing position where toner can be attached from the developing member to the photoreceptor and a separated position where at least a part of the developing member is disposed away from the photoreceptor by moving relative to the first unit; a holding portion that is movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, regulates a relative position between the first unit and the second unit, and is movable between a first position for holding the second unit at the separated position by the first unit and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position by the first unit; the driving-force receiving portion is capable of transmitting a driving force to the holding portion when rotated; the holding portion is movable from the first position to the second position by a driving force transmitted from the driving-force receiving portion when the driving-force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction, and is movable from the second position to the first position by a driving force transmitted from the driving-force receiving portion when the driving-force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction; a cartridge characterized by the above.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning portion capable of positioning the holding portion at the first position and the second position.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising a clutch capable of blocking transmission of a driving force from the driving-force receiving portion to the holding portion when the holding portion is positioned at the first position or the second position by the positioning portion.

4. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding portion rotates in only one direction by the driving force transmitted from the driving-force receiving portion when the driving-force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction.

5. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driving-force receiving portion receives the driving force for rotationally driving the developing member and rotates in the predetermined direction.

6. A cartridge, comprising: a photoreceptor; A charging member for charging the photoreceptor; A first unit including the photoreceptor and the charging member; A developing member for attaching toner to the photoreceptor; A driving force receiving portion that can rotate in a predetermined direction upon receiving a driving force for rotationally driving the photoreceptor or the developing member; A second unit including the developing member, which can move relative to the first unit and can move between a developing position where toner can be attached from the developing member to the photoreceptor and a separation position where at least a part of the developing member is disposed away from the photoreceptor; A holding portion that is movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, regulates the relative position between the first unit and the second unit, and can move between a first position for holding the second unit at the separation position by the first unit and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position by the first unit; An urging portion for urging the holding portion; The driving force receiving portion can transmit a driving force to the holding portion when rotated; The holding portion can move from the first position to the second position by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction, and can move from the second position to the first position by the urging force of the urging portion; A cartridge characterized by the above.

7. When the holding portion is located at the first position and the driving force receiving portion receives a driving force for rotating in the predetermined direction, a first moment in a first direction for urging the holding portion from the first position to the second position and a second moment in a second direction opposite to the first direction act on the holding portion; The first moment is due to a frictional force acting on the holding portion by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion to the holding portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction; The second moment is due to the urging force of the urging portion; The first moment is greater than the second moment; The cartridge according to claim 6, characterized by the above.

8. When the second unit is moved from the developing position toward the separation position and the driving force receiving portion receives a driving force for rotating in the predetermined direction, a third moment in the first direction and a fourth moment in the second direction act on the holding portion; The third moment is caused by the frictional force acting on the holding portion by the driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion to the holding portion when the driving force receiving portion rotates in the predetermined direction. The fourth moment is caused by the biasing force of the biasing portion. The fourth moment is greater than the third moment. The cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. The driving force received by the driving force receiving portion to rotate in the predetermined direction is a driving force for rotationally driving the developing member. The frictional force is generated between the rotation axis of the developing member and the holding portion. The cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that.

10. Further provided in the drive transmission path between the drive force receiving portion and the developing member, and having a delay mechanism that does not transmit the drive force received by the drive force receiving portion to rotate in the predetermined direction to the holding portion until a predetermined time has elapsed. The cartridge according to claim 9, characterized in that.

11. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, An apparatus main body capable of mounting the cartridge, comprising: An image forming apparatus, characterized in that.

Images