Cartridge and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To allow a developing unit to move smoothly during attachment of a cartridge.SOLUTION: A cartridge has a first unit that includes an image carrier rotating centered on a first axis, and a second unit that includes a developer carrier rotating centered on a second axis. The second unit can swing between a contact position where the developer carrier is in contact with the image carrier and a separation position where the developer carrier is separated from the image carrier. The second unit has a part to be pressed that is pressed by a pressing member of an apparatus body. A swing axis and the part to be pressed are arranged on the opposite side to each other across a virtual straight line connecting the first axis and the second axis. In an inter-axis direction directed from the second axis to the first axis along the virtual straight line, the part to be pressed, swing axis, and first axis are arranged in this order. The distance from the part to be pressed to the swing axis in the inter-axis direction is longer than the distance from the swing axis to the first axis in the inter-axis direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material. [Background Art]

[0002] In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, there is used a cartridge in which an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum and a process means such as a developing roller acting on the image bearing member are integrally formed as a cartridge attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus provided with a configuration in which, in a state where a process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum by a development separation mechanism during non-image formation. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-049421 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In an image forming apparatus provided with a development separation mechanism, a configuration can be adopted in which the development unit is movable when a member on the apparatus main body side acts during mounting of the cartridge. In such a configuration, there has been a demand for a configuration that allows the development unit to move smoothly when the cartridge is mounted.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration that allows the development unit to move smoothly when the cartridge is mounted. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first unit having an image carrier that rotates about a first axis; and a developer carrier that rotates about a second axis and carries and supplies developer to the image carrier. body The apparatus has a second unit, the second unit being able to pivot relative to the first unit about a pivot axis parallel to the first axis between a contact position in which the developer carrier abuts the image carrier and a separation position in which the developer carrier separates from the image carrier, the second unit having a pressed portion that is pressed by a pressing member of the apparatus body, and is configured to move from the contact position to the separation position when the pressed portion is pressed, and the second unit is positioned at the contact position When viewed in the longitudinal direction along the first axis in the placed state, the oscillating axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides of a virtual straight line connecting the first axis and the second axis, and in the interaxial direction from the second axis toward the first axis along the virtual straight line, the pressed portion, the oscillating axis, and the first axis are arranged in that order, and the distance from the pressed portion to the oscillating axis in the interaxial direction is longer than the distance from the oscillating axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction. Ku , The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supports the image carrier, the second unit is pivotably supported by the cover member, and the pressed portion is positioned in the longitudinal direction between the end of the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member. This cartridge has the following characteristics: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the developing unit can move smoothly when a cartridge is installed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of a printer according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A front view of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A front view of a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] Exploded view (a, b) of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] Side views (a, b) illustrating the mounting of a process cartridge and a toner cartridge to the main body of the device according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] Perspective views (a, b) illustrating the mounting of a process cartridge and a toner cartridge to the main body of the device according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] Schematic diagrams (a-c) illustrating the mounting of a process cartridge and a toner cartridge to the main body of the device according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] Exploded view (a, b) of a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] A cross-sectional view of a cleaning unit of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 15] A perspective view of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 16] Side views (a, b) of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 17] A side view showing the development contact state of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 18] A side view showing the development separation state of a process cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 19] A side view of a process cartridge and a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 20] A side view of a process cartridge and a toner cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 21] Figures (a, b) illustrating the movement of the developing unit when a cartridge is installed according to one embodiment. [Figure 22]Bottom view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the following description, an "image forming apparatus" is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording material (recording medium) using toner as a developer, and includes single-function printers, copying machines, and multifunction peripherals. Sheets used as the recording medium include paper such as plain paper and cardboard, plastic films such as sheets for overhead projectors, specially shaped sheets such as envelopes and index paper, and cloth.

[0012] <Overall Configuration of Printer> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as printer 1) serving as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The printer 1 includes a printer main body A, a process cartridge B, and a toner cartridge C.

[0013] The printer main body A includes a sheet feeding section 103, a transfer roller 104, a fixing device 105, and a laser scanner 101. The process cartridge B is detachably provided to the printer main body A. A process cartridge is an integrated cartridge that includes an image carrier and a processing unit that acts on the image carrier, and is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. The toner cartridge C accommodates toner as a developer and is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main body. The printer main body A can be described as a portion obtained by removing the process cartridge B and the toner cartridge C from the printer 1.

[0014] Process cartridge B will be explained using Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. Figure 2 is a front view of process cartridge B (a view of process cartridge B from the left side in Figure 1). Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of process cartridge B (cross-section aa in Figure 2). Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the second waste toner transport path 10c of process cartridge B (cross-section bb in Figure 2). Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the replenishment port of process cartridge B (cross-section cc in Figure 2).

[0015] In the following, the vertical direction (vertically upward) when the printer body A is installed with process cartridge B and toner cartridge C and the printer body A is placed on a horizontal surface is indicated by arrow Y in Figure 6, etc. The longitudinal direction of process cartridge B (direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 11) is indicated by arrow Z. Furthermore, the horizontal direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction (arrow Z) and the vertical direction (arrow Y) of process cartridge B is indicated by arrow X. Note that the arrangement and shape of the elements of process cartridge B and toner cartridge C will be explained based on the state in which process cartridge B and toner cartridge C are installed in the printer body A.

[0016] The side of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction that receives the driving force primarily from the printer body A is called the drive side (left side in Figure 2), and the opposite side is called the non-drive side (right side in Figure 2). The arrow Z in the figure represents the direction from the non-drive side to the drive side. The in-plane direction of the virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (arrow Z) is collectively referred to as the short side of the process cartridge B.

[0017] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, process cartridge B consists of a cleaning unit 10 as a first unit (photoreceptor unit) and a developing unit 15 as a second unit. The cleaning unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. The developing unit 15 includes a developing means for carrying toner as a developer or a developing roller 16 as a developer carrier.

[0018] The cleaning unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 (photosensitive drum assembly), a cleaning blade 17 as a cleaning member for the photosensitive drum 11, and a charging roller 12 as a charging member. The cleaning unit 10 also includes a charging roller cleaner 14 as a cleaning member for the charging roller 12, a primary waste toner storage section 10a, a first waste toner transport path 10b, and a second waste toner transport path 10c.

[0019] The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by creating a photosensitive layer on the outer circumference of a cylindrical (drum-shaped) substrate using an organic photoreceptor or the like. The charging roller 12 is positioned to contact the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The charging roller 12 charges the photosensitive drum 11 by applying a voltage from a high-voltage substrate provided in the printer body A. The charging roller 12 also rotates in a manner driven by the photosensitive drum 11 (that is, it rotates in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 11).

[0020] The cleaning blade 17 is an elastic component positioned to contact the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The cleaning blade 17 removes waste toner from the photosensitive drum 11 by elastically contacting the photosensitive drum 11 with its tip. The waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 17 is transported from the waste toner primary storage section 10a (described later) to the toner cartridge C via the first waste toner transport path 10b and the second waste toner transport path 10c.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5, the developing unit 15 includes a developing chamber 151 in which a developing roller 16 is placed, a developer storage chamber 152 for supplying toner to the developing chamber 151, and a receiving chamber 153 for receiving toner supplied from the toner cartridge C.

[0022] The developing roller 16 supplies toner to the developing area of ​​the photosensitive drum 11 (the area of ​​the photosensitive drum 11 facing the developing roller 16). In the developing area, the developing roller 16 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 using toner. In addition, a supply roller 13 that supplies toner to the developing roller 16 is located in the developing chamber 151.

[0023] The developing blade 18 contacts the circumferential surface of the developing roller 16 and regulates the amount (thickness) of toner that adheres to the circumferential surface of the developing roller 16. In addition, the developing blade 18 frictionally charges the toner particles by rubbing against the toner adhering to the circumferential surface of the developing roller 16, thereby imparting an electric charge to the toner particles.

[0024] An agitator 154 is placed in the developer storage chamber 152. The toner stored in the developer storage chamber 152 is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 154 and sent to the developing chamber 151, where it is supplied to the developing roller 16. A supply roller 13 can be placed in the developing chamber 151 to supply the toner from the developing chamber 151 to the developing roller 16.

[0025] The amount of toner in the developer storage chamber 152 is detected by a remaining amount detection means (not shown). Based on the detection signal from the remaining amount detection means, the control unit of the printer body A performs the operation of supplying toner from toner cartridge C to process cartridge B when the amount of toner in the developer storage chamber 152 falls below a certain level.

[0026] The receiving chamber 153 is configured to receive toner from the toner cartridge C via a passage provided in the cleaning unit 10. Specifically, a stay 21, which is part of the cleaning unit 10, is provided with a replenishment port 21c for receiving toner from the toner cartridge C and a transfer port 21d for transferring toner to the receiving chamber 153 of the developing unit 15. In addition, a screw 153b is positioned in the receiving chamber 153 to transport toner from the replenishment port 21c to the transfer port 21d.

[0027] Next, the operation of printer 1 will be explained using Figure 1. Printer 1 starts image formation when it receives image information from an external device, for example. When image formation starts, the photosensitive drum 11 is rotated by the drive source of the printer body A, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 12. Next, the laser scanner 101 exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 11 based on the image information. As a result, the charge in the exposed area is removed, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Toner is supplied to this electrostatic latent image from the developing roller 16, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 11 is transported to the transfer section, which is the nip section between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 104.

[0028] Meanwhile, in parallel with the creation of the toner image, the sheet feeding unit 103 transports the sheets S one by one. Specifically, the feeding roller 103a rotates and feeds the sheets S loaded on the feeding tray one by one. Then, in time with the arrival of the toner image at the transfer unit, the sheets S are transported to the transfer unit. As the sheets pass through the transfer unit, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 11 to the sheets S by the transfer roller 104, which is supplied with a transfer voltage from a high-voltage substrate. Any toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 that was not transferred to the sheets S in the transfer unit (waste toner) is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the cleaning blade 17.

[0029] The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fuser unit 105. The fuser unit 105 uses a heat-fixing method, and while transporting the sheet S by clamping it between the nip portions of a pair of rotating bodies, it heats and pressurizes the toner image on the sheet S. This results in an image fixed to the sheet S. In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet S that has passed through the fuser unit 105 is discharged to the outside of the printer body A by a pair of discharge rollers which serve as discharge means, and is loaded onto an discharge tray 106 provided on the top surface of the printer body A. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet S, on which an image has been formed on the first side by passing through the transfer unit and fuser unit 105, is inverted by a pair of discharge rollers which also serve as inversion means, and is transported back towards the transfer unit via a re-transport path. Then, the sheet S, on which an image has been formed on the second side by passing through the transfer unit and fuser unit 105 a second time, is discharged to the outside of the printer body A by a pair of discharge rollers and is loaded onto an discharge tray 106 provided on the top surface of the printer body A.

[0030] <Processing Cartridge> The configuration of process cartridge B in this embodiment will be described in detail using Figures 3, 9(a, b), and 10(a, b). Figure 9(a, b) is an exploded perspective view of process cartridge B. Figure 10(a) is a side view showing the development contact state of process cartridge B. Figure 10(b) is a side view showing the development separation state of process cartridge B.

[0031] As shown in Figure 9(a, b), bearing members 4 and 5 are positioned at the ends of the developing unit 15 in the axial direction of the developing roller 16. The developing unit 15 is coupled to the cleaning unit 10 so that it can pivot (rotate) around a pivot axis 8 defined by a straight line passing through the support shafts 8a and 8b, which will be described below. The pivot axis 8 is substantially parallel to the rotation axis A11 of the photosensitive drum 11.

[0032] The frame of the cleaning unit 10 consists of a main frame 20, a stay 21, and a side cover 7. The main frame 20 supports the cleaning blade 17, the charging roller 12, and the charging roller cleaner 14. The photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported on one side by a drum pin 22 attached to the main frame 20, and on the other side by a photosensitive drum support part 7b provided on the side cover 7.

[0033] The configuration in which the developing unit 15 is supported by the cleaning unit 10 will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 9(a), the cylindrical shape 5a provided in the bearing member 5 is supported by the cylindrical hole shape 7a provided in the side cover 7 of the cleaning unit 10. The support shaft 8a is defined by the common axis between the cylindrical hole shape 7a of the side cover 7 and the cylindrical shape 5a of the bearing member 5. Also, as shown in Figure 9(b), the pin 6 is inserted so as to straddle the cylindrical hole shape 20a of the main frame 20 of the cleaning unit 10 and the cylindrical hole shape 4a of the bearing member 4. The support shaft 8b is defined by the common axis between the pin 6 and the cylindrical hole shape 4a of the bearing member 4. The support shafts 8a and 8b are substantially located on the same axis, and as described above, the oscillation axis 8 is defined by a straight line including the support shafts 8a and 8b.

[0034] The protruding portion 5b of the developing unit 15, which will be described later, is part of the bearing member 5. In other words, the portion (cylindrical shape 5a) to which the developing unit 15 (second unit) is pivotably supported by the cleaning unit 10 (first unit) and the protruding portion 5b, which is the part to be pressed, are provided on the same member (bearing member 5). This configuration improves the positional accuracy between the protruding portion 5b and the cylindrical shape 5a, and allows the developing roller 16 to move with high precision due to the pressing of the protruding portion 5b. Alternatively, a cylindrical shape may be provided in the side cover 7 instead of the cylindrical hole shape 7a, and a cylindrical hole shape that fits into this cylindrical shape may be provided in the bearing member 5.

[0035] The developing unit 15 is movable around the pivot axis 8 between a contact position where the developing roller 16 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 and a separation position where the developing roller 16 is separated from the photosensitive drum 11. Hereinafter, the state of process cartridge B when the developing unit 15 is in the contact position will be referred to as the "developing contact state," and the state of process cartridge B when the developing unit 15 is in the separation position will be referred to as the "developing separation state."

[0036] Process cartridge B has pressure springs 19a and 19b as biasing means for biasing the developing unit 15. The pressure springs 19a and 19b are elastic members that connect the developing unit 15 and the cleaning unit 10, and in the illustrated configuration, tension springs are used. The developing unit 15 is biased toward the contact position by the pressure springs 19a and 19b.

[0037] Furthermore, the printer body A is equipped with a separation mechanism 100, described later, as an actuator for moving the developing unit 15 between a contact position and a separated position. The separation lever 100a, which acts as a pressing member, is movable between a position that holds the developing unit 15 in the contact position and a position that allows the developing unit 15 to move from the contact position to the separated position. In other words, the separation mechanism 100 can move the developing unit 15 from the contact position to the separated position against the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b.

[0038] The movement of the developing unit 15 between the contact position and the separation position will be explained using Figures 10(a, b), 17, and 18. Figure 10(a) is a side view showing the process cartridge B in the developing contact state, and Figure 17 is a detailed view thereof. Figure 10(b) is a side view showing the process cartridge B in the developing separation state, and Figure 18 is a detailed view thereof. Note that the side cover 7 of the cleaning unit 10 is omitted in Figures 10(a, b) in order to show the separation mechanism 100 of the printer body A.

[0039] As shown in Figures 10(a, b) and 17 and 18, the bearing member 5 of the developing unit 15 is provided with a protrusion 5b. The protrusion 5b is the part (pressed part) that is pressed by the separation lever 100a of the separation mechanism 100.

[0040] The separation mechanism 100 of the printer body A includes a separation lever 100a as a pressing member, a separation cam 100b that moves the separation lever 100a, and a motor 100c that rotationally drives the separation cam 100b. The separation lever 100a is rotatably mounted around an axis 100a1 that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller 16. Each time the motor 100c rotates the separation cam 100b by a predetermined amount (e.g., 180 degrees) based on a command from the control unit of the printer body A, the position of the separation lever 100a switches between a position that presses against the protrusion 5b and a position that is retracted from the protrusion 5b.

[0041] As shown in Figures 10(a) and 17, when the separation lever 100a is retracted from the protrusion 5b, the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b holds the developing unit 15 in contact position and the developing roller 16 contacts the photosensitive drum 11. In this state, the developing roller 16 can develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. In other words, the developing contact state is a state in which image formation can be performed using the process cartridge B. Furthermore, the contact position of the developing unit 15 is the position of the developing unit 15 during image formation, or in other words, the position in which the developing unit 15 can properly perform the developing process with the developer carrier.

[0042] As shown in Figures 10(b) and 18, the separation lever 100a is pressed by the separation cam 100b and rotates, contacting the projection 5b, and can rotate the developing unit 15 in the direction of arrow R2 against the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b. That is, the force that the projection 5b receives from the separation lever 100a causes the developing unit 15 to rotate in the direction from the contact position to the separation position (direction R2) with the pivot axis 8 as the pivot point. As a result, the developing unit 15 moves to the separation position, and the developing roller 16 separates from the photosensitive drum 11.

[0043] The developing-away state is the state when process cartridge B is not performing image formation operations (non-image formation). The developing unit 15's separated position is the position of the developing unit 15 when it is not forming an image, in other words, the position where the developer carrier is farther from the image carrier than the position in which the developing unit 15 can perform the developing process with the developer carrier. The control unit of the printer body A controls the motor 100c to put process cartridge B into the developing-away state during periods when image formation is not being performed (non-image formation), such as after the completion of an image formation job and before the next job has been submitted.

[0044] When the separation lever 100a returns to its original position (Figures 10(a) and 17), the separation lever 100a moves away from the protrusion 5b. As a result, the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b causes the developing unit 15 to move from the separated position to the contact position. That is, as shown in Figure 10(a), the developing roller 16 and the photosensitive drum 11 come into contact again.

[0045] Thus, the separation mechanism 100 allows the process cartridge B to be switched between a developing-contact state and a developing-separated state. For this reason, for example, by keeping the process cartridge B in the developing-separated state when not forming an image, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the toner and the photosensitive drum 11, and to suppress unnecessary toner consumption when not forming an image.

[0046] <Toner Cartridge Overview> The toner cartridge C will be explained using Figures 6, 7, 8, and 13(a, b). Figure 6 is a front view of the toner cartridge C (viewed from the left in Figure 1). Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply section 30 of the toner cartridge C (section aa in Figure 6). Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the waste toner collection section 40 of the toner cartridge C (section bb in Figure 6). Figure 13(a, b) is an exploded view of the toner cartridge C.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6, the toner cartridge C has an elongated shape that extends in a predetermined longitudinal direction. In Figure 6, etc., the direction from one end to the other of the toner cartridge C along its longitudinal direction is indicated by arrow Z. The longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C is substantially parallel to the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 11 and the rotation axis of the developing roller 16 when the toner cartridge C and process cartridge B are installed in the printer body A. That is, the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B.

[0048] The directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in Figure 6, etc., are the same as those used in the explanation of process cartridge B (Figure 2, etc.).

[0049] The side of the toner cartridge C in the longitudinal direction that receives the driving force mainly from the printer body A is called the drive side (left side in Figure 6), and the opposite side is called the non-drive side (right side in Figure 6). In this embodiment, the drive side is the side on which the toner supply unit 30 is located relative to the waste toner collection unit 40 described below, and the non-drive side is the side on which the waste toner collection unit 40 is located relative to the toner supply unit 30. The in-plane direction of a virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (arrow Z) is collectively referred to as the short-side direction of the toner cartridge C.

[0050] <Toner Supply Department> As shown in Figure 6, the toner cartridge C includes a toner supply unit 30 that supplies toner to the process cartridge B, a waste toner collection unit 40 that collects waste toner from the process cartridge B, and a pump unit 37. The pump unit 37 (Figure 13(a)) is located inside the drive-side side cover 50 of the toner cartridge C.

[0051] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 13(a, b), the toner supply unit 30 includes a toner storage unit 30a for storing toner. The toner storage unit 30a is formed by a supply unit frame 31 and a supply unit lid 32. The supply unit frame 31 has a toner discharge port 31a for discharging toner from the toner storage unit toward the developing unit 15. The toner discharge port 31a is positioned to face the replenishment port 21c (Figure 5) of the process cartridge B when the toner cartridge C is installed in the printer body A. The communication between the toner discharge port 31a and the replenishment port 21c enables toner replenishment to the process cartridge B. A shutter member 34 is provided on the outside of the supply unit frame 31 that opens the closed toner discharge port 31a in conjunction with the installation of the toner cartridge C into the printer body A.

[0052] The toner storage section 30a is equipped with a replenishment screw 35, which serves as a screw member for transporting toner toward the toner discharge port 31a, and an agitation and transport unit 36, which serves as an agitation and transport member for agitating the toner and transporting it toward the replenishment screw 35.

[0053] Both the replenishment screw 35 and the agitation and conveying unit 36 ​​convey and agitate the toner by rotating around a rotation axis that extends in the longitudinal direction. In other words, both the replenishment screw 35 and the agitation and conveying unit 36 ​​are examples of toner conveying means for conveying toner. The agitation and conveying unit 36 ​​has a shaft portion 36a that rotates when driven by a driving force, and an agitation portion 36b that protrudes radially from the shaft portion 36a and conveys and agitates the toner by rotating together with the shaft portion 36a. The shaft portion 36a extends in the longitudinal direction so as to penetrate the toner storage portion 30a. The agitation portion 36b is formed of, for example, a flexible resin sheet. The toner conveyed to the toner discharge port 31a by the agitation and conveying unit 36 ​​and the replenishment screw 35 is discharged from the toner discharge port 31a by the pump unit 37.

[0054] As shown in Figure 13(a, b), the pump unit 37 includes a pump 37a configured to change its internal volume by expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C, and a cam 37b rotatably arranged coaxially with the pump 37a. Furthermore, the pump unit 37 includes a link arm 37c that moves linearly in the longitudinal direction as the cam 37b rotates, thereby expanding and contracting the pump 37a in the longitudinal direction.

[0055] The pump 37a has a cylindrical outer shape, and the side surface of the cylindrical shape is formed in a bellows-like manner. Therefore, the pump 37a is expandable and contractible in the direction along the central axis of the cylindrical shape. The cam 37b and link arm 37c constitute a cam mechanism that drives the pump 37a by converting the rotational driving force input to the toner cartridge C into linear motion in the contraction direction and the opposite extension direction of the pump 37a.

[0056] <Drive configuration of the toner supply unit> The drive configuration of the toner supply unit 30 will be explained using Figures 7 and 13(a, b). As shown in Figure 13(a, b), the toner supply unit 30 has a stirring drive input unit 38 (first drive input unit) that drives the stirring conveying unit 36, and a pump / screw drive input unit 39 (second drive input unit) that drives the pump unit 37 and the replenishment screw 35. Both the stirring drive input unit 38 and the pump / screw drive input unit 39 are located on one longitudinal end (drive side) of the toner cartridge C.

[0057] Since the toner cartridge C is provided with separate agitation drive input unit 38 and pump / screw drive input unit 39, the agitation conveying unit 36, the pump unit 37, and the replenishment screw 35 can be independently driven and controlled. Specifically, the agitation conveying unit 36 ​​is driven continuously during image formation, while the pump unit 37 and the replenishment screw 35 are driven intermittently only when toner replenishment to the process cartridge B is required. The timing when toner replenishment is required is determined by the control unit of the printer body A based on the detection signal from the remaining amount detection means described above.

[0058] Viewed in the longitudinal direction, the stirring drive input unit 38 is located next to the stirring drive gear 38b, which transmits rotational driving force to the stirring conveying unit 36. The stirring drive gear 38b is located coaxially with the stirring conveying unit 36 ​​and at one longitudinal end, and rotates integrally with the stirring conveying unit 36. The stirring drive gear 38b receives the driving force from the stirring drive input unit 38 and rotates the stirring conveying unit 36 ​​in the R1 direction in Figure 7. The rotation of the stirring conveying unit 36 ​​in the R1 direction causes the toner in the toner storage unit 30a to be conveyed toward the replenishment screw 35.

[0059] Viewed in the longitudinal direction, a cam drive gear 39a is provided next to the pump / screw drive input section 39, which rotates in response to the driving force from the pump / screw drive input section 39. Next to the cam drive gear 39a, a cam gear 39b is provided, which rotates in response to the driving force from the cam drive gear 39a. The cam gear 39b is integrally formed with the cam 37b. Therefore, as the pump / screw drive input section 39 rotates, the cam gear 39b rotates, causing the cam 37b of the pump unit 37 to rotate. As a result of the rotation of the cam 37b, the link arm 37c moves linearly in the longitudinal direction, and the pump 37a extends and retracts.

[0060] Viewed longitudinally, a screw drive gear 39c is provided next to the cam gear 39b, which transmits rotational driving force to the replenishment screw 35. The screw drive gear 39c is coaxial with the replenishment screw 35 and located at one longitudinal end, and rotates integrally with the replenishment screw 35. The screw drive gear 39c receives driving force from the cam gear 39b and rotates the replenishment screw 35. The rotation of the replenishment screw 35 transports the toner in the toner storage section 30a longitudinally toward the toner discharge port 31a.

[0061] As shown in Figures 6 and 13(a, b), a drive-side side cover 50 is provided at the drive-side end of the toner cartridge C. The drive-side side cover 50 is fixed to the toner storage section 30a (supply section frame 31). The drive-side side cover 50 is part of the frame of the toner cartridge C. The drive-side side cover 50 rotatably supports the agitation drive input section 38 and the pump / screw drive input section 39.

[0062] Furthermore, the drive-side cover 50 is provided with a positioning boss 50a and a guided portion 50b. As will be described later, these components have the function of regulating the orientation of the toner cartridge C when it is installed in the printer body A.

[0063] <Waste Toner Collection Department> Next, an overview of the waste toner collection unit 40 will be described. As shown in Figure 8, the waste toner collection unit 40 includes a waste toner storage unit 40a for storing waste toner. The waste toner storage unit 40a is formed by a storage unit frame 41 and a storage unit lid 42. The storage unit lid 42 is provided with a waste toner receiving port 42a for receiving waste toner recovered from the process cartridge B. The waste toner collection unit 40 has a shutter member 43 that opens and closes the waste toner receiving port 42a. The shutter member 43 opens and closes in the direction of arrow R3 in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge C to the printer body A.

[0064] As shown in Figure 13(a, b), a partition member 46 and a first waste toner screw 44 and a second waste toner screw 45, which serve as waste toner transport means for transporting waste toner within the waste toner storage section 40a, are arranged inside the waste toner storage section 40a. The first waste toner screw 44 transports the waste toner that has fallen from the waste toner receiving port 42a in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C. The second waste toner screw 45 obtains driving force from the first waste toner screw 44 and transports the waste toner that has been transported by the first waste toner screw 44 diagonally upward.

[0065] The waste toner collection unit 40 is driven as follows. As shown in Figure 13(a, b), the agitation conveying unit 36 ​​is provided with an agitation non-drive gear 38a on the longitudinal side opposite to the agitation drive gear 38b. The driving force input to the agitation drive input unit 38 on the drive side of the toner supply unit 30 is transmitted to the non-drive side of the toner supply unit 30 via the agitation conveying unit 36. So This is transmitted to the non-driving agitation gear 38a.

[0066] Viewed in the longitudinal direction, a gear train 710 is provided next to the non-driven agitation gear 38a for transmitting power to the first waste toner screw 44 in the waste toner storage section 40a. In other words, the first waste toner screw 44 rotates by receiving rotational driving force from the printer body A via the agitation drive input section 38, the agitation drive gear 38b, the agitation transport unit 36, the non-driven agitation gear 38a, and the gear train 710.

[0067] As shown in Figures 6 and 13(a, b), a non-drive side cover 60 is provided at the non-drive side (waste toner collection unit 40 side) of the toner cartridge C. The non-drive side cover 60 is fixed to the waste toner storage unit 40a (storage unit frame 41). The non-drive side cover 60 is part of the frame of the toner cartridge C.

[0068] Furthermore, the non-drive side cover 60 is provided with a positioning boss 60a and a guided portion 60b. As will be described later, these components have the function of regulating the orientation of the toner cartridge C when it is installed in the printer body A.

[0069] <How to install and remove process cartridges and toner cartridges> Next, the method for attaching and detaching process cartridge B and toner cartridge C to and from printer body A will be explained using Figures 11(a, b), 12(a-c), and 16(a, b). Figure 11(a, b) is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of process cartridge B and toner cartridge C to printer body A. Figures 12(a-c) are side views illustrating the attachment of process cartridge B and toner cartridge C to printer body A. Figure 16(a) is a side view of process cartridge B viewed from the longitudinal drive side. Figure 16(b) is a side view of process cartridge B viewed from the longitudinal non-drive side.

[0070] As shown in Figure 11(a), the printer body A has a mounting section inside, which is a space for installing the process cartridge B and the toner cartridge C. The printer body A has an opening / closing door 107 on its outer surface that is rotatable (openable and closable) around the pivot axis R5 relative to the printer body A. Figures 11(a, b) show the opening / closing door 107 in the open position. By opening the opening / closing door 107, the mounting section inside the printer body A is exposed to the outside of the printer body A. The printer body A also has guide sections 108 and 109.

[0071] As shown in Figures 16(a, b), upper bosses 93, 94, lower bosses 95, 96, and tip bosses 97, 98 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the process cartridge B (see also Figures 9(a, b)). Specifically, on the drive-side side of the process cartridge B (Figure 16(a)), the upper boss 94, the lower boss 96 located below the upper boss 94, and the tip boss 98 located downstream of the upper boss 94 in the mounting direction D are arranged. On the non-drive-side side of the process cartridge B (Figure 16(b)), the upper boss 93, the lower boss 95 located below the upper boss 93, and the tip boss 97 located downstream of the upper boss 93 in the mounting direction D are arranged. The upper bosses 93, 94 function as first guided parts that are guided by the guide parts 108, 109 of the printer body A. The tip bosses 97 and 98 function as second guided parts that are guided by the guide parts 108 and 109 of the printer body A. In addition, the stay 21 of the process cartridge B has toner cartridge positioning parts 21a and 21b (Figure 9(b)).

[0072] As shown in Figures 13(a, b), the toner cartridge C is provided with positioning bosses 50a, 60a and guided portions 50b, 60b. The positioning bosses 50a, 60a are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C, and the guided portions 50b, 60b are also provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C. Furthermore, in the mounting direction D (Figure 11(b)), the guided portions 50b, 60b are located upstream of the positioning bosses 50a, 60a in the mounting direction.

[0073] First, process cartridge B is installed into the printer body A. As shown in Figures 11(a) and 12(a), process cartridge B is inserted in the installation direction D while being guided by guide sections 108 and 109. At this time, on the drive side, the upper boss 94 and tip boss 98 rest on the guide section 109, and the guide section 109 is sandwiched between the upper boss 94 and tip boss 98 and the lower boss 96. On the non-drive side, the upper boss 93 and tip boss 97 rest on the guide section 108, and the guide section 108 is sandwiched between the upper boss 93 and tip boss 97 and the lower boss 95. As a result, process cartridge B moves in the installation direction D while being guided by guide sections 108 and 109. That is, the installation direction D of process cartridge B is the direction in which process cartridge B moves along the guide sections 108 and 109.

[0074] To be more precise, the mounting direction D of process cartridge B, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, is as shown in Figure 16(a, b), with the lower surface of the upper boss 93 (first guided portion) and the tip boss 97 (first two This is the direction along a virtual straight line L1 connecting the lower surface of the guided portion. The virtual straight line L1 is a common tangent to the tip boss 97 and the upper boss 93 from below. The reason why the direction along the virtual straight line L1 connecting the lower surface of the upper boss 93 and the lower surface of the tip boss 97 is the mounting direction D is because the process cartridge B is supported by the guide portion 108 at two points, the lower surface of the tip boss 97 and the lower surface of the upper boss 93, while being guided during mounting. Alternatively, the direction along the virtual straight line connecting the lower surface of the tip boss 98 and the lower surface of the upper boss 94 may also be considered the mounting direction D.

[0075] After installing process cartridge B into printer body A, install toner cartridge C into printer body A. As shown in Figures 11(b) and 12(b), place the guided portions 50b and 60b of toner cartridge C on the guide portions 108 and 109 of printer body A, respectively, and insert in the installation direction D. The direction in which toner cartridge C moves along guide portions 108 and 109 is the installation direction of toner cartridge C.

[0076] Figure 12(c) shows the toner cartridge C installed to the insertion completion position. In this state, the positioning bosses 50a and 60a (Figure 13(a, b)) of the toner cartridge C fit into the toner cartridge positioning sections 21a and 21b (Figure 9(b)) of the process cartridge B. In this state, the leading edges of the guided sections 50b and 60b in the installation direction are separated from the guide sections 108 and 109, while the rear ends of the guided sections 50b and 60b contact the guide sections 108 and 109. This positions the toner cartridge C within the process cartridge B. Furthermore, the contact of the rear ends of the guided sections 50b and 60b with the guide sections 108 and 109 determines the position of the toner cartridge C within the printer body A.

[0077] After installing process cartridge B and toner cartridge C, closing the opening / closing door 107 will put printer 1 into a state where it can perform image formation.

[0078] When removing toner cartridge C and process cartridge B, follow the reverse procedure described above. That is, after opening the opening / closing door 107, first pull out toner cartridge C in the opposite direction to the installation direction D, and then pull out process cartridge B in the opposite direction to the installation direction D.

[0079] Incidentally, when the process cartridge B is in the development contact state, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, the virtual line L2 connecting the rotation axis A11 (first axis) of the photosensitive drum 11 and the rotation axis A16 (second axis) of the developing roller 16 is approximately parallel to the aforementioned virtual line L1. Specifically, the angle α formed by the virtual line L2 connecting the rotation axes A11 and A16 of the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 16, and the line L1' in the mounting direction D which is parallel to the virtual line L1, can be within the range of 3.8° ± 5°.

[0080] The reason why the virtual line L2 is approximately parallel to the virtual line L1 is, for example, as follows: Process cartridge B is installed in the printer body A with the cleaning unit 10 at the front and the developing unit 15 at the rear when the opening / closing door 107 is open (Figures 1 and 12 (a-c)). In other words, process cartridge B is installed in the printer body A with the photosensitive drum 11 positioned downstream of the developing roller 16 in the installation direction D. Therefore, the virtual line L2 connecting the rotation axes A11 and A16 of the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 16 is at an angle close to the virtual line L1 extending in the installation direction D.

[0081] Furthermore, the components of process cartridge B are arranged with space to allow the laser beam Le (Figure 1), which is irradiated from the laser scanner 101 of the printer body A toward the photosensitive drum 11 during image formation, to pass through. In this embodiment, the laser scanner 101 is positioned above process cartridge B and irradiates the laser beam Le approximately downwards. Therefore, the developing roller 16 contacts the photosensitive drum 11 at a position between the exposure area where the laser beam Le is irradiated toward the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer area where the photosensitive drum 11 faces the transfer roller 104, in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 11 (clockwise in Figure 1). In practice, components of the developing unit 15 other than the developing roller 16 are arranged so as not to interfere with the optical path of the laser beam Le or the transport path of the sheet S. Also, the transfer roller 104 is positioned at the opening of the frame of the developing unit 15, and the entire frame of the developing unit 15 needs to pass through the opening of the printer body A when attaching or detaching process cartridge B. Given these placement constraints, it is natural to position the developing roller 16 so that it is aligned with the photosensitive drum 11 in the mounting direction D. In other words, the virtual straight line L2 connecting the rotation axes A11 and A16 of the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 16 will be at an angle closer to the virtual straight line L1 in the mounting direction D.

[0082] Here, process cartridge B is equipped with multiple contacts E1 to E3 (Figure 16(b)) for supplying power to the developing unit 15. The direction in which these contacts E1 to E3 are aligned is approximately parallel to the mounting direction D. Contact E1 is connected to contact E4 (Figure 11(a)) of the printer body A, enabling the application of voltage to the developing roller 16. Contact E2 is connected to contact E5 (Figure 11(a)) of the printer body A, enabling the application of voltage to the supply roller 13. Contact E3 is connected to contact E6 (Figure 11(a)) of the printer body A, enabling the application of voltage to the developing blade 18. Furthermore, by providing contacts E1 to E3 separately, it is possible to independently adjust the voltage applied to the developing roller 16, supply roller 13, and developing blade 18. Contacts E1 to E3 are aligned along a virtual straight line L3. The virtual line L3 is the line connecting the center of the surface of tangency E1 and the center of the surface of tangency E3 when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0083] The reason why the multiple contacts E1 to E3 of the developing unit 15 are arranged in a direction approximately parallel to the mounting direction D is as follows: Since protrusions such as bosses (93, 95, 97) that are guided by the guide portion 108 of the printer body A are arranged on the longitudinal side surface of the process cartridge B, it is preferable to arrange the contacts E1 to E3 in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction D, avoiding these protrusions. This makes it easy to bring the contacts E1 to E3 into contact with the contacts E4 to E6 of the printer body A when the process cartridge B is mounted.

[0084] Furthermore, by utilizing the space between the upper boss 93 and the lower boss 95 of the process cartridge B to position the contacts E1 to E3, the development unit 15 can be made smaller in the shorter direction. In other words, the contacts E4 to E6 on the printer body side are placed on the guide section 108, and the contacts E1 to E3 of the development unit 15 are placed opposite the guide section 108. At this time, by aligning the contacts E1 to E3 in the mounting direction D, which is the extension direction of the guide section 108, it becomes possible to position the contacts E1 to E3 in the space between the upper boss 93 and the lower boss 95.

[0085] <Waste toner transport configuration inside the cleaning unit> The waste toner transport configuration inside the cleaning unit 10 will be explained using Figures 3, 4, and 14. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning unit 10 as seen from above, when the unit is cut horizontally.

[0086] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 14, the cleaning unit 10 has a first waste toner transport path 10b that extends substantially parallel to the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 11 (drum axis direction), and a second waste toner transport path 10c that extends substantially perpendicular to the drum axis direction. A first waste toner transport member 70 is arranged in the first waste toner transport path 10b, and a second waste toner transport member 71 is arranged in the second waste toner transport path 10c. The second waste toner transport path 10c and the second waste toner transport member 71 are arranged inward from both ends of the cleaning blade 17 in the drum axis direction (Figure 14).

[0087] As described above, the cleaning blade 17 collects the waste toner on the photosensitive drum 11 into the waste toner primary storage section 10a. When the waste toner primary storage section 10a is filled with waste toner, it reaches the first waste toner transport path 10b. The waste toner that reaches the first waste toner transport path 10b is transported by the spiral section 70a provided on the first waste toner transport member 70 from one side to the other in the direction of the drum axis, and reaches the second waste toner transport path 10c. The waste toner that reaches the second waste toner transport path 10c is transported by the spiral section 71a of the second waste toner transport member 71 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the drum axis and upward toward the cleaning blade 17. Furthermore, the waste toner that has been transported to the end of the second waste toner transport member 71 is discharged from the waste toner discharge port 72 (Figure 4) to the waste toner receiving port 42a (Figure 13) of the waste toner collection section 40. The waste toner discharge port 72 is an opening provided in the cleaning unit 10 to discharge waste toner from the process cartridge B. The waste toner receiving port 42a is an opening provided in the waste toner collection section 40 of the toner cartridge C to receive waste toner discharged from the process cartridge B.

[0088] <Drive configuration of waste toner transport component> The drive configuration of the first waste toner transport member 70 and the second waste toner transport member 71 will be explained with reference to Figure 15. Figure 15 is a perspective view of the process cartridge B showing the drive configuration of the waste toner transport members. In Figure 15, for explanatory purposes, the side cover 7 and bearing member 5 of the process cartridge B are omitted from the illustration.

[0089] As shown in Figure 15, the cleaning unit 10 includes a drive gear 70b that transmits power to the first waste toner transport member 70 and a bevel gear 71b that transmits power to the second waste toner transport member 71. Power is transmitted to the drive gear 70b from a developer coupling 155, which is provided coaxially with the oscillating axis 8, via an idler gear train 601. The developer coupling 155 is one of the input members to which the process cartridge B receives power from the printer body A.

[0090] The bevel gear 71b receives power from the drive gear 70b via the idler gear 602 and the through shaft 75. The through shaft 75 is a shaft-shaped member that penetrates the cleaning unit 10 in the direction of the drum axis. One end of the through shaft 75 is provided with a gear 75b that meshes with the idler gear 602, and the other end is provided with a bevel gear 75a that meshes with the bevel gear 71b. In this way, the drive transmitted from the drive gear 70b via the idler gear 602 and the through shaft 75 drives the first waste toner transport member 70 and the second waste toner transport member 71 in conjunction, enabling the transport of waste toner.

[0091] The bevel gears 71b and 75a may be replaced with screw gears or worm gears. In this embodiment, the rotational speeds of the first waste toner transport member 70 and the second waste toner transport member 71 are the same, but the rotational speed of the second waste toner transport member 71 may be higher than that of the first waste toner transport member 70 in order to improve transport efficiency.

[0092] <Arrangement of elements in the short direction of the process cartridge> The arrangement of elements in the short-side direction of the process cartridge B in relation to the movement of the developing unit 15 will now be described. Figures 19 and 20 are both side views of the process cartridge B (and toner cartridge C) in the developing contact state, viewed from the longitudinal drive side. That is, Figures 19 and 20 show the cartridge of this embodiment as viewed along the rotation axis (first axis) of the photosensitive drum 11 when the developing unit 15 (second unit) is in contact position.

[0093] As described above, the virtual straight line L2 in Figures 19 and 20 is the straight line connecting the rotation axis A11 (first axis) of the photosensitive drum 11 and the rotation axis A16 (second axis) of the developing roller 16. The virtual straight line L2 is approximately parallel to the mounting direction D of the process cartridge B. In other words, the direction from the developing roller 16 toward the photosensitive drum 11 along the virtual straight line L2 (hereinafter referred to as the interaxial direction D') is approximately parallel to the mounting direction D.

[0094] a) As shown in Figure 19, the pivot axis 8 of the developing unit 15 and the protruding portion 5b pressed by the separation lever 100a are positioned on opposite sides of the virtual straight line L2. In other words, the pivot axis (8) and the pressed portion (5b) of the developing unit 15 (second unit) are positioned on opposite sides of the virtual straight line (L2) connecting the first axis (A11) and the second axis (A16). With this configuration, when the process cartridge B is installed and the protruding portion 5b comes into contact with the separation lever 100a, the direction of the rotational force acting on the developing unit 15 is in the direction that the developing unit 15 moves from the contact position to the separation position (clockwise in the figure). times (In that direction.)

[0095] b) Also, as shown in Figure 19, in the interaxial direction D' from the rotation axis A16 of the developing roller 16 toward the rotation axis A11 of the photosensitive drum 11, the protruding part 5b, the oscillating axis 8, and the rotation axis A11 of the photosensitive drum 11 are arranged in that order. In other words, in the interaxial direction (D') from the second axis (A16) toward the first axis (A11), the pressed part, the oscillating axis, and the first axis are arranged in that order.

[0096] c) Then, as shown in Figure 20, if the positions of the protrusion 5b, the pivot axis 8, and the rotation axis A11 in the interaxial direction D' are P1, P2, and P3, respectively, the distance d1 from P1 to P2 is longer than the distance d2 from P2 to P3. In other words, the distance (d1) from the pressed portion (5b) to the pivot axis (8) in the interaxial direction (D') is longer than the distance (d2) from the pivot axis (8) to the first axis (A11) in the interaxial direction (D').

[0097] According to the configurations in b) and c) above, when the protrusion 5b comes into contact with the separation lever 100a during the installation of the process cartridge B, the developing unit 15 can move from the contact position to the separation position with less force. That is, compared to the case where the distance d1 is smaller than the distance d2, the distance from the pivot point (oscillation axis 8) of the developing unit 15 to the point of application of the force (protrusion 5b) is longer, so the developing unit 15 can be moved even if the force acting on the protrusion 5b is small.

[0098] Regarding the above b), for example, it is also conceivable to position the protruding portion 5b on the same side as the rotation axis A11 of the photosensitive drum 11 with respect to the oscillation axis 8 (downstream side in the mounting direction D). However, in this case, when the developing unit 15 oscillates from the contact position to the separation position, the amount of protrusion of the protruding portion 5b becomes larger (the amount of penetration relative to the virtual straight line L2 becomes larger), making it difficult to position the separation lever 100a. In addition, compared to this embodiment, the distance the protruding portion 5b moves when the process cartridge B is mounted becomes longer, and the printer body A may become larger in order to secure space for the protruding portion 5b to pass through. According to this embodiment, since the protruding portion 5b is positioned on the opposite side of the rotation axis A11 of the photosensitive drum 11 with respect to the oscillation axis 8 (upstream side in the mounting direction D), the space inside the printer body A can be utilized more effectively.

[0099] As described above, the interaxial direction D' of the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 16 is approximately parallel to the mounting direction D of the process cartridge B. Therefore, the above configurations a), b), and c) are also valid when the mounting direction D is used as the reference.

[0100] That is, as shown in Figure 19, the pivot axis (8) and the pressed portion (5b) of the developing unit 15 (second unit) are positioned on opposite sides of a virtual straight line (L1') that passes through the first axis (A11) and extends in the mounting direction (D). With this configuration, the direction of the rotational force acting on the developing unit 15 when the protruding portion 5b contacts the separation lever 100a during the mounting of the process cartridge B is the direction in which the developing unit 15 moves from the contact position to the separation position.

[0101] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, in the mounting direction (D), the pressed portion (5b), the pivot axis (8), and the first axis (A11) are arranged in that order. The distance from the pressed portion (5b) to the pivot axis (8) in the mounting direction (D) is longer than the distance from the pivot axis (8) to the first axis (A11) in the mounting direction (D). With this configuration, when the protruding portion 5b comes into contact with the separation lever 100a during the mounting of the process cartridge B, the developing unit 15 can move from the contact position to the separation position with less force.

[0102] <Movement of the developing unit when a cartridge is installed> The movement of the developing unit 15 when the process cartridge B is installed in the printer body A will be explained using Figures 21(a, b). Figure 21(a) shows the intermediate state of the operation to install the process cartridge B into the printer body A in the direction of arrow D, with the separation lever 100a in the position that holds the developing unit 15 in the separated position (same as Figure 10(b)). Figure 21(b) shows the state where the process cartridge B has been inserted to the position where it is fully installed in the printer body A, from the state in Figure 21(a).

[0103] In this embodiment, the process cartridge B can be attached and detached regardless of whether the separation lever 100a is in a position that holds the developing unit 15 in a separated position or in a position that does not contact the protrusion 5b. The following describes the case in which the process cartridge B is attached while the separation lever 100a is in a position that holds the developing unit 15 in a separated position.

[0104] As shown in Figure 21(a), before the protruding portion 5b of the developing unit 15 contacts the separation lever 100a, the developing unit 15 is held in the contact position by the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b.

[0105] As the process cartridge B is inserted in the mounting direction D from the state shown in Figure 21(a), the protruding portion 5b comes into contact with the separation lever 100a. The dashed line Lc in Figure 21(a) is a straight line drawn in the mounting direction D, and the protruding portion 5b and the separation lever 100a first come into contact along the dashed line Lc.

[0106] Since the separation lever 100a is held by the separation cam 100b, the protrusion 5b is pressed against the separation lever 100a, causing a rotational force to act on the developing unit 15 in a clockwise direction (arrow R2) relative to the pivot axis 8 in the figure. As a result, as shown in Figure 21(b), when the installation of the process cartridge B is completed, the developing unit 15 has moved to the separated position, and the process cartridge B is in the developed separated state.

[0107] Here, with the configurations a) to c) described above, when the protruding part 5b comes into contact with the separation lever 100a during the installation of process cartridge B, the developing unit 15 moves to the separated position with relatively little force. In other words, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the developing unit 15 can move smoothly when the cartridge is installed. Furthermore, since it is possible to avoid applying a large load to move the developing unit 15 when the cartridge is installed, the installation of process cartridge B becomes easier and usability is improved.

[0108] <Details of element placement in the shorter direction> Incidentally, as shown in Figure 21(a), when the developing unit 15 is in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the protruding portion 5b (pressed portion) protrudes downward from the lower end position of the photosensitive drum 11 in the direction E perpendicular to the mounting direction D. In other words, the protruding portion 5b contacts the photosensitive drum 11 from below and protrudes downward from the tangent line Ld extending in the mounting direction D. Also, as shown in Figure 21(a), when the developing unit 15 is in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the protruding portion 5b (pressed portion) protrudes downward from the lower end position of the photosensitive drum 11 in the direction E' perpendicular to the interaxial direction D'. In other words, the protruding portion 5b contacts the photosensitive drum 11 from below and protrudes downward from the tangent line Ld' extending in the aforementioned interaxial direction D'.

[0109] This configuration makes it easier to move the developing unit 15 when a cartridge is installed. Specifically, as shown in Figure 21(a), the projection 5b can be positioned so that it contacts the separation lever 100a at a position (below Ld) where the separation lever 100a does not overlap with the movement trajectory of the photosensitive drum 11 when a cartridge is installed, when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0110] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, when the developing unit 15 is in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the angle β between the direction in which the protrusion 5b extends downstream from its tip 5b1 in the mounting direction D and the mounting direction D is acute. Also, when the developing unit 15 is in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the angle β' between the direction in which the protrusion 5b extends downstream from its tip 5b1 in the interaxial direction D' and the interaxial direction D' is acute.

[0111] This configuration makes it easier for the force acting on the protruding part 5b when it comes into contact with the separation lever 100a during cartridge installation to act in a direction that swings the developing unit 15 toward the separated position, allowing the developing unit 15 to move more smoothly. Furthermore, the possibility of damage to the protruding part 5b or the separation lever 100a due to a strong collision between the protruding part 5b and the separation lever 100a is reduced. The angles β and β' are preferably 60° or less, and more preferably 45° or less.

[0112] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an inclined portion 100a2 at the tip of the separation lever 100a (the upstream end in the mounting direction D and the upstream end in the interaxial direction D'). As shown in Figure 21(a), when the separation lever 100a is in a position that holds the developing unit 15 in a separated position, the inclined portion 100a2 is inclined toward the side that moves away from the protruding portion 5b as it moves upstream in the mounting direction D. This reduces the possibility of the protruding portion 5b getting caught when the cartridge is mounted.

[0113] <Structural arrangement of elements in the process cartridge> The longitudinal arrangement of elements of the process cartridge B in relation to the movement of the developing unit 15 will be described. Figure 22 is a bottom view (viewed in the Y direction) of the process cartridge B.

[0114] As shown in Figure 22, the protruding portion 5b of the developing unit 15 is positioned in the longitudinal direction (arrow Z) within the range Z1 between the side cover 7 of the cleaning unit 10 and the end of the outer peripheral surface 11a of the photosensitive drum 11 on the side cover 7 side. In other words, the pressed portion (5b) is positioned in the direction along the first axis (Z) between the end of the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member.

[0115] With this configuration, the protruding portion 5b, which acts as the part to be pressed, is positioned near the side cover 7 that pivotably supports the developing unit 15, making it less likely for the developing unit 15 to twist when the protruding portion 5b is pressed. In addition, since the protruding portion 5b is located outside the outer peripheral surface 11a of the photosensitive drum 11 in the longitudinal direction, the possibility of the separation lever 100a, which abuts the protruding portion 5b, coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface 11a of the photosensitive drum 11 when the cartridge is installed can be reduced.

[0116] As shown in Figure 22, the photosensitive drum 11 has drum gears 11b and 11c provided on the outside of the outer peripheral surface 11a, which is the photosensitive surface (image-bearing surface). The longitudinal position of the protrusion 5b can be set to coincide with the longitudinal position of the drum gear 11c. This configuration makes it possible to miniaturize the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction.

[0117] One of the drum gears 11b and 11c is a gear for inputting rotational driving force to the photosensitive drum 11, and the other gear is a gear for generating longitudinal thrust force to position the photosensitive drum 11 in the longitudinal direction. However, the photosensitive drum 11 may be configured to have only a gear for inputting rotational driving force.

[0118] (Other embodiments) In the embodiment described above, when the protruding portion 5b of the developing unit 15 is not in contact with the separation lever 100a, the developing unit 15 is held in the contact position by the biasing force of the pressure springs 19a and 19b. Alternatively, for example, the developing unit 15 may be held in the contact position by its own weight when the protruding portion 5b is not in contact with the separation lever 100a, without the pressure springs 19a and 19b. Even in this case, the configuration described in the embodiment allows for smooth movement of the developing unit 15 when a cartridge is installed.

[0119] (Summary of this disclosure) This disclosure includes at least the following components:

[0120] (Composition 1) A cartridge that is attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus, A first unit equipped with an image carrier that rotates around the first axis, A second unit comprising a developer carrier that rotates around a second axis and carries and supplies developer to the image carrier, It has, The second unit is pivotable relative to the first unit about a pivot axis parallel to the first axis, between a contact position where the developer carrier abuts the image carrier and a separation position where the developer carrier separates from the image carrier. The second unit has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing member of the main body of the device, and is configured to move from the contact position to the separated position when the pressed portion is pressed. When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction along the first axis, The pivot axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides of a virtual straight line connecting the first axis and the second axis. In the interaxial direction from the second axis toward the first axis along the aforementioned virtual straight line, the pressed portion, the oscillating axis, and the first axis are arranged in that order, and The distance from the pressed portion to the pivot axis in the interaxial direction is longer than the distance from the pivot axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction. A cartridge characterized by the following features.

[0121] (Configuration 2) The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supports the image carrier. The second unit is pivotably supported by the cover member, The pressed portion is positioned in the longitudinal direction between the end of the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, A cartridge according to configuration 1, characterized by the features described above.

[0122] (Composition 3) In the longitudinal direction, the gear is positioned between the end of the outer surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, and rotates about the first axis. The position of the pressed portion in the longitudinal direction and the position of the gear in the longitudinal direction coincide. The cartridge according to configuration 2, characterized by the features described above.

[0123] (Composition 4) When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the pressed portion protrudes downward from the lower end position of the image carrier in a direction perpendicular to the interaxial direction. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

[0124] (Composition 5) When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the angle between the direction in which the pressed portion extends downstream from the tip of the pressed portion in the interaxial direction and the interaxial direction is acute. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

[0125] (Composition 6) The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction. The second unit has a bearing member that rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end in the longitudinal direction, The second unit is supported by the first unit so as to be able to swing around the pivot axis, by fitting a cylindrical shape provided on one of the cover member and the bearing member into a cylindrical hole shape provided on the other of the cover member and the bearing member. The pressed portion is part of the bearing member. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized by the above.

[0126] (Composition 7) A first guided portion provided on the side surface of the first unit in the longitudinal direction, A second guided portion is provided on the side surface of the first unit and is located at a position away from the first guided portion, It further possesses, The cartridge is configured such that the first guided portion and the second guided portion are supported by the guide portion of the device body and guided into being mounted onto the device body. The aforementioned axial direction is substantially parallel to the direction of a virtual straight line tangent to the lower surface of the first guided portion and the lower surface of the second guided portion. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized by the above.

[0127] (Composition 8) The system further comprises a biasing means connected to the first unit and the second unit, which biases the second unit toward the contact position, The second unit is held in the contact position by the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is not pressed, and moves to the separated position against the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is pressed. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

[0128] (Composition 9) The aforementioned axial direction is substantially parallel to the mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted on the device body. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized by the above.

[0129] (Composition 10) A cartridge that is attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus, A first unit equipped with an image carrier that rotates around the first axis, A second unit comprising a developer carrier that rotates around a second axis and carries and supplies developer to the image carrier, It has, The cartridge is configured to be mounted on the main body of the device in a mounting direction perpendicular to the first axis, The second unit is pivotable relative to the first unit about a pivot axis parallel to the first axis, between a contact position where the developer carrier abuts the image carrier and a separation position where the developer carrier separates from the image carrier. The second unit has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing member of the main body of the device, and is configured to move from the contact position to the separated position when the pressed portion is pressed. When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction along the first axis, The pivot axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides of a virtual straight line passing through the first axis and extending in the mounting direction. In the mounting direction, the pressed portion, the pivot axis, and the first axis are arranged in that order, and The distance from the pressed portion to the pivot axis in the mounting direction is longer than the distance from the pivot axis to the first axis in the mounting direction. A cartridge characterized by the following features.

[0130] (Composition 11) The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supports the image carrier. The second unit is pivotably supported by the cover member, The pressed portion is positioned in the longitudinal direction between the end of the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, A cartridge according to configuration 10, characterized by the features described above.

[0131] (Composition 12) In the longitudinal direction, the gear is positioned between the end of the outer surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, and rotates about the first axis. The position of the pressed portion in the longitudinal direction and the position of the gear in the longitudinal direction coincide. A cartridge according to configuration 11, characterized by the features described above.

[0132] (Composition 13) When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the pressed portion protrudes downward from the lower end position of the image carrier in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 10 to 12, characterized by the features described herein.

[0133] (Composition 14) When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the angle between the direction in which the pressed portion extends downstream from the tip of the pressed portion in the mounting direction and the mounting direction is acute. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 10 to 13, characterized by the features described herein.

[0134] (Composition 15) The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction. The second unit has a bearing member that rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end in the longitudinal direction, The second unit is supported by the first unit so as to be able to swing around the pivot axis, by fitting a cylindrical shape provided on one of the cover member and the bearing member into a cylindrical hole shape provided on the other of the cover member and the bearing member. The pressed portion is part of the bearing member. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 10 to 14, characterized by the features described herein.

[0135] (Composition 16) A first guided portion provided on the side surface of the first unit in the longitudinal direction, A second guided portion is provided on the side surface of the first unit and is located at a position away from the first guided portion, It further possesses, The cartridge is configured such that the first guided portion and the second guided portion are supported by the guide portion of the device body and guided into being mounted onto the device body. The mounting direction is the direction of a virtual straight line tangent to the lower surface of the first guided portion and the lower surface of the second guided portion. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 10 to 15, characterized by the features described herein.

[0136] (Composition 17) The system further comprises a biasing means connected to the first unit and the second unit, which biases the second unit toward the contact position, The second unit is held in the contact position by the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is not pressed, and moves to the separated position against the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is pressed. A cartridge according to any one of configurations 10 to 16, characterized by the features described herein.

[0137] (Composition 18) A cartridge described in any one of configurations 1 to 17, The device body into which the cartridge is installed, Equipped with, The main body of the device has a guide portion that guides the cartridge, The cartridge is mounted on the main body of the device in a direction along the guide portion. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0138] B...Cartridge (process cartridge) / 5b...Pressed part (protruding part) / 8...Oscillating axis / 10...First unit (cleaning unit) / 11...Image carrier (photosensitive drum) / 15...Second unit (developing unit) / 16...Developer carrier (developing roller) / A11...First axis (rotation axis of the photosensitive drum) / A16...Second axis (rotation axis of the developing roller)

Claims

1. A cartridge that is attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus, A first unit equipped with an image carrier that rotates around the first axis, A second unit comprising a developer carrier that rotates around a second axis and carries and supplies developer to the image carrier, It has, The second unit is pivotable relative to the first unit about a pivot axis parallel to the first axis, between a contact position where the developer carrier abuts the image carrier and a separation position where the developer carrier separates from the image carrier. The second unit has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing member of the main body of the device, and is configured to move from the contact position to the separated position when the pressed portion is pressed. When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction along the first axis, The pivot axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides of a virtual straight line connecting the first axis and the second axis. In the interaxial direction from the second axis toward the first axis along the aforementioned virtual straight line, the pressed portion, the oscillating axis, and the first axis are arranged in that order, and The distance from the pressed portion to the pivot axis in the interaxial direction is longer than the distance from the pivot axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction. The first unit has a cover member that forms a side surface on one end of the first unit in the longitudinal direction and rotatably supports the image carrier. The second unit is pivotably supported by the cover member, The pressed portion is positioned in the longitudinal direction between the end of the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, A cartridge characterized by the following features.

2. In the longitudinal direction, the gear is positioned between the end of the outer surface of the image carrier on the cover member side and the cover member, and rotates about the first axis. The position of the pressed portion in the longitudinal direction and the position of the gear in the longitudinal direction coincide. The cartridge according to feature 1.

3. When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the pressed portion protrudes downward from the lower end position of the image carrier in a direction perpendicular to the interaxial direction. The cartridge according to feature 1.

4. When the second unit is positioned in the contact position and viewed in the longitudinal direction, the angle between the direction in which the pressed portion extends downstream from the tip of the pressed portion in the interaxial direction and the interaxial direction is acute. The cartridge according to feature 1.

5. The second unit has a bearing member that rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end in the longitudinal direction, The second unit is supported by the first unit so as to be able to swing around the pivot axis, by fitting a cylindrical shape provided on one of the cover member and the bearing member into a cylindrical hole shape provided on the other of the cover member and the bearing member. The pressed portion is part of the bearing member. The cartridge according to feature 1.

6. The first guided portion provided on the side surface of the first unit, A second guided portion is provided on the side surface of the first unit and is located at a position away from the first guided portion, It further possesses, The cartridge is configured such that the first guided portion and the second guided portion are supported by the guide portion of the device body and guided into being mounted onto the device body. The aforementioned axial direction is substantially parallel to the direction of a virtual straight line tangent to the lower surface of the first guided portion and the lower surface of the second guided portion. The cartridge according to feature 1.

7. The system further comprises a biasing means connected to the first unit and the second unit, which biases the second unit toward the contact position, The second unit is held in the contact position by the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is not pressed, and moves to the separated position against the biasing force of the biasing means when the pressed portion is pressed. The cartridge according to feature 1.

8. The aforementioned axial direction is substantially parallel to the mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted on the device body. The cartridge according to feature 1.

9. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The device body into which the cartridge is installed, Equipped with, The main body of the device has a guide portion that guides the cartridge, The cartridge is mounted on the main body of the device in a direction along the guide portion. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.

Images