JPH11143339A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of toner coarse particles generated by a developer entering between a stirring member and a support hole of a cartridge frame supporting the stirring member and melting and solidifying by friction heat or the like. To provide a process cartridge capable of performing the process and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached. SOLUTION: A hole 12B1 for loosely fitting and supporting an end 9e2 of a stirring member 9e is formed in a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end 9e2 of the stirring member 9e, While the end 9e2 of 9e is in line contact with the hole 12B1, the inside of the hole 12B1 is slid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of detaching the process cartridge.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming process. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

Here, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus by the user himself, so that maintenance of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be easily performed.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, if its use is long,
It is necessary to replace the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, replace the developing device, supply toner as a developer, clean the charger, replace the cleaning container in which waste toner is stored, and make other adjustments around the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Was.

Therefore, conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means acting thereon are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the forming apparatus main body is employed. According to this method, since the maintenance of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be performed by the user himself, the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.

In such a process cartridge, it is necessary to sufficiently agitate the toner as a developer in a toner container or a developing container so as to increase the fluidity and transport the toner to the developing sleeve. For this reason, a stirring member for stirring the toner is rotatably attached to the toner frame and the developing frame forming a part of the cartridge frame.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art, and its main purpose is to provide a developer between a stirring member and a support hole of a cartridge frame supporting the stirring member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge capable of preventing generation of coarse toner particles generated by melting and solidifying by frictional heat or the like, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the following constitutions.

[1] An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer in a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; A cartridge frame that supports the developing unit, wherein the developing unit has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame includes the stirring unit. A hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the member is provided, and a hole of the cartridge frame is formed as a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to a peripheral surface of an end of the stirring member. And process cartridge.

[2] The process cartridge according to [1], wherein the gradient of the hole of the cartridge frame with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °.

[3] In a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer, A cartridge frame that supports the developing unit, wherein the developing unit has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame includes the stirring unit. A developing frame for supporting the member, the developing frame has a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the stirring member,
A process cartridge, wherein the hole of the developing frame is formed as a hole having an inclination of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member.

[4] The process cartridge according to [3], wherein the gradient of the hole of the developing frame with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °.

[5] An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer in a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; A cartridge frame that supports the developing unit, wherein the developing unit has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame includes the stirring unit. A toner frame for supporting a member, the toner frame having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the stirring member, and a hole of the toner frame being an end of the stirring member. A process cartridge formed with a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the process cartridge.

[6] The process cartridge according to [5], wherein the gradient of the hole of the toner frame with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °.

[7] The process cartridge further comprises at least one of a charging means and a cleaning means, a pre-development means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is formed into an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to any one of [1] to [6], which is detachable from the main body.

[8]: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. The cartridge frame has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer stored in the frame, the cartridge frame has a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the stirring member, and the cartridge frame has a hole. Mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having a hole formed in a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[0017]

[9]: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the frame, the cartridge frame having a developing frame for supporting the stirring member, and the developing frame being the stirring member. A process cartridge having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end of the developing frame, wherein the hole of the developing frame is formed as a hole having a gradient of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member. Mounting means for removably mounting; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[10]: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the frame; the cartridge frame including a toner frame for supporting the stirring member; and the toner frame including the stirring member. A process cartridge having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end of the toner frame, wherein the hole of the toner frame is formed as a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member. Mounting means for removably mounting; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[Operation] In the process cartridge of the above [1], the end of the agitating member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the cartridge frame is rotated when the developer is agitated by the rotation of the agitating member. Sliding inside the hole while making line contact with the portion. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the hole, and the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole. It is possible to avoid rubbing of the toner with the inner peripheral surface of the hole,
Therefore, generation of toner coarse particles can be prevented.

In the process cartridge of [3], the end of the stirring member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the developing frame is connected to the hole during the stirring of the developer by the rotation of the stirring member. It slides in the hole while making contact. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the holes, and in addition,
Since the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole,
It is possible to prevent the toner from rubbing between the outer peripheral surface of the end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the hole due to the rotation of the stirring member, thereby preventing the generation of coarse toner particles.

In the process cartridge according to the above [5], the end of the stirring member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the toner frame is lined with the hole during the stirring of the developer by the rotation of the stirring member. It slides in the hole while making contact. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the hole, and the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole. Rubbing of the toner with the inner peripheral surface of the hole can be avoided, and thus the generation of coarse toner particles can be prevented.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the above [8], the end of the stirring member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the cartridge frame of the process cartridge is developed by rotation of the stirring member. While the agent is being stirred, the inside of the hole is slid while being in line contact with the hole. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the hole, and the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole. Rubbing of the toner with the inner peripheral surface of the hole can be avoided, and thus the generation of coarse toner particles can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to eliminate white spots or the like that occur in the transferred image on the recording medium due to the coarse particles of the toner, and to obtain a good image.

In addition, the above

[9] In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of [9], the end of the stirring member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the developing frame of the process cartridge is rotated by the rotation of the stirring member. Sliding inside the hole while making line contact with the portion. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the hole, and the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole. Rubbing of the toner with the inner peripheral surface of the hole can be avoided, and thus the generation of coarse toner particles can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to eliminate white spots or the like that occur in the transferred image on the recording medium due to the coarse particles of the toner, and to obtain a good image.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the above [10], the end of the stirring member loosely fitted and supported in the hole of the toner frame of the process cartridge is developed by rotation of the stirring member. While the agent is being stirred, the inside of the hole is slid while being in line contact with the hole. As a result, heat and pressure are not applied to the developer that has entered the hole, and the developer in the hole is discharged from the opening of the hole. Rubbing of the toner with the inner peripheral surface of the hole can be avoided, and thus the generation of coarse toner particles can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to eliminate white spots or the like that occur in the transferred image on the recording medium due to the coarse particles of the toner, and to obtain a good image.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the process cartridge B
Is a direction in which the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as the image forming apparatus main body or the apparatus main body) 14, and coincides with the transport direction of the recording medium. Process cartridge B
Is the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B.
4 is a direction intersecting (substantially perpendicular to) the direction in which the recording medium is attached to and detached from the recording medium 4, and is a direction parallel to the surface of the recording medium and intersecting (substantially perpendicular to) the conveying direction of the recording medium. Further, the left and right of the process cartridge are right or left when the recording medium is viewed from above according to the transport direction of the recording medium.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof. 3 to 8 are drawings relating to a process cartridge to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. 3 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view schematically showing the external appearance, FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof, FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view when the process cartridge is turned over and viewed from above. Further, in the following description, the upper surface of the process cartridge B is a surface located above when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, and the lower surface is a surface located below.

I. Schematic Configuration of Electrophotographic Image Forming Apparatus A and Process Cartridge B First, a laser beam printer A as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam printer A forms an image on a recording medium (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) by an electrophotographic image forming process. Then, a toner image is formed on a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive drum).
More specifically, the photoconductor drum is charged by a charging unit, and then the photoconductor drum is irradiated with laser light corresponding to image information from the optical unit to form a latent image corresponding to the image information on the photoconductor drum. Then, the latent image is developed by a developing unit to form a toner image. Then, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 set in the sheet feeding cassette 3a is picked up by the pickup roller 3b and the conveying roller pair 3
It is reversed and conveyed by c, 3d and a pair of registration rollers 3e. Next, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit. Thereafter, the recording medium 2 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 by the conveyance guide 3f. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5c and a fixing roller 5 including a heater 5a.
b. Then, heat and pressure are applied to the passing recording medium 2 to fix the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 3g, 3h, and 3i, and is discharged to a discharge tray 6 through a reversing path 3j. The discharge tray 6 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 14 of the image forming apparatus A. It is also possible to operate the swingable flapper 3k and discharge the recording medium 2 by the discharge roller pair 3m without passing through the reversing path 3j. In the present embodiment, the pickup roller 3b, the transport roller pair 3c, 3d, the registration roller pair 3e, the transport guide 3
f, discharge roller pair 3g, 3h, 3i and discharge roller pair 3
The transport means 3 is constituted by m.

On the other hand, the process cartridge B rotates a photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer 7e (see FIG. 11) as shown in FIGS. Is uniformly charged by the application of the voltage. Next, a laser beam corresponding to the image information from the optical unit 1 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 1e to form a latent image. Then, the latent image is developed by developing means 9 using toner. That is, the charging roller 8 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and charges the photosensitive drum 7. The charging roller 8 is driven and rotated by the photosensitive drum 7. The developing unit 9 supplies toner to a developing area of the photoconductor drum 7 to develop a latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 7. The optical means 1 is
It has a laser diode 1a, a polygon mirror 1b, a lens 1c, and a reflection mirror 1d.

Here, the developing means 9 includes the toner container 1
The toner in 1A is rotated by rotation of the toner feeding member 9b.
It is sent to the developing roller 9c. Then, the developing roller 9c containing the fixed magnet is rotated and the developing blade 9c is rotated.
A toner layer provided with a triboelectric charge by d is formed on the surface of the developing roller 9c, and the toner is supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 7. Then, the toner image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image, thereby forming a toner image and visualizing the toner image. Here, the developing blade 9d
Defines the amount of toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c and imparts a triboelectric charge. A toner stirring member 9e for circulating toner in the developing chamber is rotatably mounted near the developing roller 9c.

Then, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 to the recording medium 2.
By 0, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed.
Here, the cleaning means 10 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 7 by an elastic cleaning blade 10a provided in contact with the photoconductor drum 7 and collects it in the waste toner reservoir 10b.

In the process cartridge B, a toner frame 11 having a toner container (toner storage section) 11A for storing toner and a developing frame 12 for holding developing means 9 such as a developing roller 9c are connected. A cleaning means 10 such as a photosensitive drum 7, a cleaning blade 10a, and the like, and a cleaning frame 13 to which a charging roller 8 is attached are connected to this. The process cartridge B is moved by the operator to the image forming apparatus main body 14.
It is removable.

In the process cartridge B, an exposure opening 1e for irradiating the photosensitive drum 7 with a laser beam light corresponding to image information and the photosensitive drum 7 are provided.
A transfer opening 13n is provided for facing the transfer opening. More specifically, the exposure opening 1e is provided in the cleaning frame 13, and the transfer opening 13n is formed between the developing frame 12 and the cleaning frame 13.

Next, the structure of the housing of the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment will be described.

The process cartridge B shown in the present embodiment has a housing as a cartridge frame, in which a toner frame 11 and a developing frame 12 are connected, and a cleaning frame 13 is rotatably connected thereto. The photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8, the developing means 9, the cleaning means 10 and the like are housed therein to form a cartridge. Then, the process cartridge B is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the image forming apparatus main body 14. This cartridge mounting means will be described later.

II. Configuration of Housing of Process Cartridge B In the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment, as described above, the toner frame 11, the development frame 12, and the cleaning frame 13 are combined to form a housing as a cartridge frame. Next, the configuration will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 20, a toner feeding member 9b is rotatably attached to the toner frame 11. A developing roller 9c and a developing blade 9d are mounted on the developing frame 12, and a toner stirring member 9e for circulating toner in the developing chamber is rotatably mounted near the developing roller 9c. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 19, the developing frame 12 faces the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c and is substantially parallel to the developing roller 9c.
h is attached. Then, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are welded (in this embodiment, ultrasonic welding) to constitute a developing unit D (see FIG. 13) as an integrated second frame.

When the process cartridge B is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 14, the developing unit D covers the photosensitive drum 7 and protects the photosensitive drum 7 from exposure to light for a long time or protection from contact with foreign matter.
Attached to.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drum shutter member 18 has a shutter cover 18a for opening and closing the transfer opening 13n shown in FIG. 3, and links 18b and 18c for supporting the shutter cover 18a. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, holes 4 of the developing holder 40
One end of the right link 18c is pivotally connected to 0g. One end of the left link 18c is pivotally connected to a boss 11h provided on the lower frame 11b of the toner frame 11, as shown in FIGS. The other end of the link 18c on both sides is the shutter cover 1
8a is pivotally mounted on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge B. The link 18c is a metal wire, and a portion pivotally connected to the shutter cover 18a is connected between both sides of the process cartridge B, and the left and right links 18c are integrated. The link 18b is provided only on one side of the shutter cover 18a. One end of the link 18b is pivotally attached to the shutter cover 18a at the downstream end in the transport direction of the recording medium 2 from the position where the link 18c is pivotally connected, and the other end is developed. It is pivotally attached to a dowel 12 d provided on the frame 12. This link 18b is a synthetic resin.

The links 18b and 18c have different lengths, and form a four-bar linkage mechanism in which the shutter cover 18a and the frame including the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are linked. The laterally protruding portions 18c1 provided on the links 18c on both sides come into contact with a fixed member (not shown) provided near the cartridge mounting space S of the image forming apparatus main body 14, and the drum is moved by the movement of the process cartridge B. The shutter member 18 is operated to open the shutter cover 18a.

This shutter cover 18a, link 18
b, 18c, the drum shutter member 18
The shutter cover 18a is biased so as to cover the transfer opening 13n by a not-shown torsion coil spring inserted into 2d and locked at one end by the link 18b and at the other end by the developing frame 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the photosensitive frame 7, the charging roller 8 and the cleaning means 10 are attached to the cleaning frame 13 to form a cleaning unit C (FIG. 12) as a first frame. Reference).

The process cartridge B is constituted by connecting the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C rotatably to each other by a connecting member 22 of a round pin. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, a round turning hole 20 is provided at the tip of an arm portion 19 formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction (axial direction of the developing roller 9c) of the developing frame 12 in parallel with the developing roller 9c. It is. On the other hand, the arm 1 is provided at two places on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 13.
There is provided a recess 21 for entering 9 (see FIG. 12). The arm 19 is inserted into the recess 21, the coupling member 22 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 13 e of the cleaning frame 13, and is fitted into the pivot hole 20 at the end of the arm 19 and further press-fitted into the inner hole 13 e. By attaching the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C, the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are rotatably connected around the connecting member 22. At this time, the compression coil spring 22a inserted and attached to the dowel (not shown) standing
By pressing the developing frame 12 downward by the compression coil spring 22a, the developing roller 9c is reliably pressed against the photosensitive drum 7. When the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are assembled, the upper wall of the concave portion 21 of the cleaning frame 13
a is ramped so that a gradually increases compression from the uncompressed state. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
By attaching spacer rollers 9i having a diameter larger than that of the developing roller 9c to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the roller c, the rollers 9i are pressed against the photosensitive drum 7, and the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 9c are spaced at a fixed interval (about 300 μm). Oppose each other. Therefore, the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are rotatable with respect to each other about the coupling member 22, where the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 and the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c are moved by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 22a. Can be maintained.

As described above, since the compression coil spring 22a is attached to the developing frame 12 at the root side of the arm portion 19, the pressing force of the compression coil spring 22a does not reach the portion other than the root of the arm portion 19, so that the developing frame 12 is Even if the circumference of the spring seat is not particularly strengthened so that the attached member is used as a spring seat, the root side of the arm portion 19 is a portion having high strength and rigidity, which is effective in maintaining accuracy.

The structure of the coupling between the cleaning frame 13 and the developing frame 12 will be described later in further detail.

III. Configuration of Guide Means for Process Cartridge B Next, guide means for attaching and detaching the process cartridge B to / from the apparatus main body 14 will be described. This guide means is shown in FIGS. Note that FIG.
FIG. 5 is a left perspective view when the process cartridge B is viewed in a direction (arrow X) of mounting the process cartridge B on the apparatus main body 14 (when viewed from the developing unit D side). FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the right side.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. Is provided. The guide means includes a cylindrical guide 13aR as a positioning guide member,
13aL and detent guides 13bR and 13bL as guide members serving as attitude holding means at the time of attachment / detachment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical guide 13a
R is a hollow cylindrical member, and a detent guide 13bR
Is formed integrally with the cylindrical guide 13aR, and projects almost radially integrally from the circumference of the cylindrical guide 13aR. The mounting flange 13a is attached to the cylindrical guide 13aR.
R1 is provided integrally. Thus, the cylindrical guide 13aR, the detent guide 13bR, the mounting flange 13
The right guide member 13R having aR1 is the mounting flange 1
The small screw 13aR2 is screwed and fixed to the cleaning frame 13 through the small screw hole 3aR1. The detent guide 13bR of the right guide member 13R fixed to the cleaning frame 13 extends to the side of a later-described developing holder 40 fixed to the developing frame 12 so as to extend therefrom.
It is arranged on the side of the.

As shown in FIG. 6, the enlarged diameter portion 7a of the drum shaft 7a is inserted into the hole 13k1 of the cleaning frame 13 (see FIG. 11).
2 are fitted. Then, it is fitted to a positioning pin 13c protruding from the side surface of the cleaning frame 13 and is stopped from rotating. The flat flange 29 fixed to the cleaning frame 13 with small screws 13d is directed outward (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6). The cylindrical guide 13aL protrudes toward the front side. The fixed drum shaft 7a rotatably supports the spur gear 7n fitted on the photosensitive drum 7 inside the flange 29 (see FIG. 11). The cylindrical guide 13aL and the drum shaft 7a are coaxial. The flange 29, the cylindrical guide 13aL, and the drum shaft 7a
Is integrally or integrally made of a metal material, for example, an iron material.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical guide 13aL
The rotation preventing guide 13bL, which is slightly apart from the cylindrical guide 13aL in the radial direction of the cylindrical guide 13aL,
Are formed integrally with the cleaning frame 13 so as to protrude to the side of the cleaning frame 13. The portion where the detent guide 13bL interferes with the flange 29 is such that the flange 29 is cut out and the lateral protrusion height of the detent guide 13bL is such that the top surface substantially coincides with the top surface of the detent guide 13bL. is there. The detent guide 13bL extends to the side of the developing roller bearing box 9v fixed to the developing frame 12. As described above, the left guide member 13L is provided as separate members in which the metal cylindrical guide 13aL and the synthetic resin detent guide 13bL are separated.

Next, the upper surface 13i of the cleaning unit C
Will be described. Here, the upper surface is a surface located above when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the right and left ends 13p and 13q of the upper surface 13i of the cleaning unit C in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction of the process cartridge are respectively regulated. A contact portion 13j is provided. The regulation contact portion 13j defines the position of the process cartridge B when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14. That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the regulating contact portion 13j comes into contact with the fixed member 25 (see FIGS. 9, 10, and 30) provided on the image forming apparatus main body 14. In contact therewith, the rotational position of the process cartridge B about the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL is defined.

IV. Configuration of Guide Means of Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 14 Next, guide means of the image forming apparatus main body 14 will be described. The opening and closing member 35 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is
1, the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is opened, and the mounting portion of the process cartridge B looks as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. When viewed from the mounting direction of the process cartridge B on the left and right inner walls of the image forming apparatus main body 14 from the opening where the opening / closing member 35 is opened, guide members 16R and 16L are provided on the left and right sides, respectively, as shown in FIG. Is provided.

As shown in the figure, the guide members 16R, 16L
The guide portions 16a and 1 are obliquely provided so as to descend forward as viewed from the arrow X in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B.
6c and the cylindrical guides 13aR, 13a of the process cartridge B connected to the guide portions 16a, 16c, respectively.
It has semicircular positioning grooves 16b and 16d into which L just fits. The peripheral walls of the positioning grooves 16b and 16d have a cylindrical shape. The centers of the positioning grooves 16b and 16d are such that the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13a of the process cartridge B when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14.
L, and therefore also coincides with the center line of the photosensitive drum 7.

The width of the guide portions 16a and 16c is such that the cylindrical guide 13a is
R and 13aL have a width for loose fitting. Cylindrical guide 13
Although the detent guides 13bR and 13bL each having a narrower width than the diameters of the aR and 13aL fit loosely, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL and the detent guide 13 naturally fit loosely.
The rotation of bR and 13bL is restricted by the guide portions 16a and 16c, and the process cartridge B is mounted while maintaining a certain range of posture. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B are provided.
Are the positioning grooves 16b of the guide members 13R and 13L, respectively.
16d, and the right and left regulating contact portions 13j of the front end of the cleaning frame 13 of the process cartridge B contact the fixed member 25 of the apparatus main body 14 (see FIG. 30).

In the process cartridge B described above, if the center lines connecting the centers of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL are kept horizontal on the cleaning unit C side and the developing unit D side, the developing unit D side is higher than the cleaning unit C side. The weight distribution is such that a large first moment is generated.

V. Attaching and Demounting Process Cartridge B to Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 14 To mount the process cartridge B to the image forming apparatus main body 14, grip the respective ribs 11 c on the concave side 17 and lower side of the toner frame 11 with one hand, Guide 13aR, 1
3aL is inserted into the guide portions 16a and 16c of the cartridge mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body 14, respectively, and then the detent guides 13bR and 13bL of the image forming apparatus main body 14 are moved downward with the process cartridge B as viewed from the insertion direction. It is inserted into the guides 16a and 16c. The cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL and the detent guides 13bR and 13bL of the process cartridge B advance to the back side along the guide portions 16a and 16c of the image forming apparatus main body 14, and the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B form the image. When the cylindrical guides 13aR, 13aL reach the positioning grooves 16b, 16d of the apparatus main body 14, they are seated by the gravity of the process cartridge B at the positions of the positioning grooves 16b, 16d. Thereby, the positioning grooves 16b, 16d
To the cylindrical guide 13a of the process cartridge B
The positions of R and 13aL are accurately determined. Since the center line connecting the centers of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL is the center line of the photosensitive drum 7, the position of the photosensitive drum 7 is roughly determined in the image forming apparatus main body 14. In the state where the coupling is finally connected, the photosensitive drum is moved to the apparatus main body 1.
The position for 4 is determined.

In this state, the fixing member 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 and the regulating contact portion 13 of the process cartridge B are
j has a slight gap. When the hand holding the process cartridge B is released, the process cartridge B descends around the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL, the cleaning unit C rises, and the regulating contact portion of the process cartridge B rises. Reference numeral 13j contacts the fixed member 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 14, and the process cartridge B is accurately mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14. Thereafter, the opening / closing member 35 is connected to the fulcrum 3 in FIG.
Rotate clockwise around 5a and close.

The removal of the process cartridge B from the apparatus main body 14 is the reverse of the above description. Then, the cylindrical guides 13aR, 13aR,
13aL rotates about the positioning grooves 16b and 16d of the apparatus main body 14, and the regulating contact portion 1 of the process cartridge B is rotated.
3j is separated from the fixing member 25 of the apparatus main body 14. When the process cartridge B is further pulled, the cylindrical guide 13a
R, 13aL escape from the positioning grooves 16b, 16d and guide members 16R, 16L fixed to the apparatus main body 14.
When the process cartridge B is lifted as it is, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL and the detent guides 13bR and 13bL of the process cartridge B are moved to the guide portions 16a and 16b of the apparatus body 14.
The process cartridge B moves up and moves upward, whereby the attitude of the process cartridge B is regulated.

As shown in FIG. 12, the spur gear 7n
Is provided at the end of the photosensitive drum 7 opposite to the helical drum gear 7b in the axial direction. This spur gear 7n is
When the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the driving force for rotating the transfer roller 4 by engaging with a gear (not shown) coaxial with the transfer roller 4 provided on the apparatus main body 14 is provided. To communicate from.

VI. Configuration of Toner Frame 11 of Developing Unit D The toner frame is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 16, 20, and 21. FIG. FIG. 20 is a perspective view before welding the toner seal, and FIG. 21 is a perspective view after filling the toner.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner frame 11 is composed of two parts, an upper frame 11a and a lower frame 11b. The upper frame 11a bulges upward so as to occupy the space to the right of the optical means 1 of the main body 14 of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. Instead, the amount of toner in the process cartridge B is increased. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, a concave portion 17 is provided from the outside at the center in the longitudinal direction of the upper frame body 11a, and has a function of a handle. Therefore, the operator holds the concave portion 17 of the upper frame 11a and the lower side of the lower frame 11b by hand. The longitudinal ribs 11c provided on one side of the recess 17 and below the lower frame 11b are non-slip when the process cartridge B is held. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the flange 11a1 of the upper frame 11a is fitted to the flange 11b1 having a peripheral edge of the lower frame 11b, and is fitted at the welding surface U, and a welding rib (not shown) is formed by ultrasonic welding. The two frames 11a and 11b are integrated by melting. However, the joining method is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and may be, for example, heat welding, forced vibration, or bonding. When the two frames 11a, 11b are ultrasonically welded, the flanges 11b1, 11b1 support the two frames 11a, 11b, and a step 11m is provided on the upper side outside the opening 11i on the substantially same plane as the flange 11b1. is there. The configuration for providing this step 11m will be described later.

Prior to joining the two frames 11a and 11b, the toner feeding member 9 is placed inside the lower frame 11b.
b. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the coupling member 11 is engaged with the end of the toner feeding member 9b.
e is assembled from the hole 11e1 in the side plate of the toner frame 11.
The hole 11e1 is provided at one longitudinal end of the lower frame 11b. A substantially right triangular toner filling port 11 for filling the same side of the hole 11e1 with toner.
d is provided. The edge of the toner filling port 11d has one side at a right angle near the joint of the upper and lower toner frames 11a and 11b, one side in the vertical direction at right angles to the one side, and a hypotenuse along the lower side of the lower frame 11b. . For this reason, the maximum size of the toner filling port 11d can be adopted. Therefore, the hole 11e1 and the toner filling port 11d are provided side by side. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 11,
An opening 11i of the toner frame 11 for sending toner to the toner is provided, and a seal (described later) is welded so as to cover the opening 11i. Thereafter, toner is filled from the toner filling port 11d, and the toner filling port 11d is covered with a toner cap 11f as shown in FIG. The toner cap 11f is formed of a material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and is pressed into or adhered to a toner filling port 11d provided in the toner frame 11, and is prevented from coming off. Further, the toner unit J is ultrasonically welded to a later-described developing frame 12 to form a developing unit D. However, the joining method is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and may be performed by bonding or snap-fitting using elastic force.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner frame 11
The slope K of the lower frame body 11b naturally falls when toner is consumed, that is, the slope K of the process cartridge B mounted on the apparatus main body 14 with the apparatus main body 14 being horizontal and the horizontal line. The angle θ with Z is about 65
Degree is preferred. In addition, the lower frame 11b is recessed downward so as to escape the rotation area of the toner feeding member 9b.
g. The rotation diameter of the toner feeding member 9b is 37
mm. The concave portion 11g may be recessed from the extension of the slope K by about 0 mm to 10 mm. This is because if the concave portion 11g is located above the slope K, the toner that has naturally fallen from above the slope K will not be fed into the developing frame 12 due to the toner between the concave portion 11g and the slope K. Is expected to remain, but in the present embodiment, the toner can be reliably sent from the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12.

The toner feeding member 9b is made of a rod-shaped iron-based material having a diameter of about 2 mm and has a crank shape. As shown in FIG. The body 11 is pivotally attached to the hole 11r facing the inside of the opening 11i and the other is fixed to the coupling member 11e (the coupling portion is not visible in FIG. 20).

As described above, by providing the concave portion 11g as a relief for the toner feeding member 9b on the bottom surface of the toner frame 11, stable toner feeding performance can be obtained without increasing the cost.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 20 and FIG. 22, the toner frame 1
1 is provided with an opening 11 i for sending toner from the developing frame 12 to the developing frame 12. A concave surface 11 is formed around the opening 11i.
k is provided. Grooves 1 are formed directly on both edges of the upper and lower flanges 11j, 11j1 of the concave surface 11k.
1n are provided in parallel. In addition, this concave surface 11k
The upper flange 11j has a gate shape, and the lower flange 11j1 is in a direction crossing the concave surface 11k.
As shown in FIG. 22, the bottom 11n2 of the groove 11n is located at a position protruding outward (toward the developing frame 12) from the concave surface 11k. Note that, as schematically shown in FIG. 36, the flange 11j of the opening 11i may be framed so as to be one plane.

VII. Structure of Joint of Developing Frame 12 and Toner Frame 11 of Developing Unit D As shown in FIG. 19, the surface of the developing frame 12 facing the toner frame 11 is a flat surface 12u. A flange 12e parallel to the plane 12u is provided in a closed position in a frame shape at a position retracted from the plane 12u on both sides in the longitudinal direction. Ridge 12 fitted into groove 11n
v is provided. A triangular ridge 12v1 for ultrasonic welding is provided on the top surface of the ridge 12v.
2). Therefore, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 after the components are assembled are respectively combined with the groove 11 of the toner frame 11.
n and the ridge 11v of the developing frame 12 are fitted and ultrasonically welded along its longitudinal direction (details will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 21, a cover film 51 which is easily torn in the longitudinal direction is attached to the concave surface 11k so as to cover the opening 11i of the toner frame 11. The cover film 51 has the opening 1 on the concave surface 11k.
1i is attached to the toner frame 11 along the four edges. A tear tape 52 for tearing the cover film 51 is welded to the cover film 51 to open the opening 11i. The tear tape 52 is folded back at one longitudinal end 52b of the opening 11i, and is attached to the longitudinal end of a flat surface of the developing frame 12 facing the toner frame 11, for example, a felt-like elastic material. Sealing material 54 (see FIG. 19) and toner frame 11
The end portion 52a pulled out to the outside through the space and pulled out to the outside of the tear tape 52 is a handle member 11t serving as a handle.
(See FIGS. 6, 20, and 21). The handle member 11t is formed integrally with the toner frame body 11 so that a portion connected to the toner frame body 11 is particularly thin so as to be cut off, and an end of the tear tape 52 is attached to the handle member 11t. . The elastic sealing material 5
A tape 55 in the form of a synthetic resin film having a small coefficient of friction is adhered to the inside of the four surfaces. Further, an elastic seal member 56 is attached to the flat surface 12e at the end opposite to the longitudinal direction in the position where the elastic seal member 54 is attached (see FIG. 19).

The above-described elastic sealing members 54 and 56 are attached to the flange 12e at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flange 12e over the entire width in the transverse direction. The elastic sealing members 54 and 56 coincide with the flanges 11j at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave surface 11k, and further overlap the ridges 12v over the entire width of the flange 11j in the lateral direction.

Further, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 1
In order to facilitate the alignment of the two frames 11 and 12 when joining the two, the cylindrical dowel 12w1 and the square dowel 12w2 provided on the developing frame 12 are fitted to the flange 11j of the toner frame 11. A matching round hole 11r and square hole 11q are provided. Here, the round hole 11r fits tightly with the dowel 12w1, the square hole 11q closely engages with the dowel 12w2 in the short direction and roughly in the long direction. Toner frame 11 and developing frame 12
Are combined, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are independently assembled as a finished product. Thereafter, the cylindrical dowel 12w1 for positioning the developing frame 12 and the square dowel 12
w2 is fitted into the positioning round hole 11r and the square hole 11q of the toner frame 11. Also, the groove 11n of the toner frame 11
The protruding ridges 12v of the developing frame 12 are respectively fitted into the developing frame 12. And
When the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are pressed against each other, the sealing members 54 and 56 are pressed against the flanges 11j at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 11, and are compressed. A ridge 12z serving as a spacer integrally formed in the short direction approaches the flange 11j of the toner frame 11. Here, the protruding ridges 12z are provided only on both sides in the width direction (transverse direction) of the tear tape 52 so as to allow the tear tape 52 to pass therethrough.

In the above state, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12
And ultrasonic vibration is applied between the ridge 12v and the groove 11n, and the triangular ridge 12v1 is melted by frictional heat and welded to the bottom of the groove 11n. Thereby, the toner frame 1
The edge 11n1 of the groove 11n and the ridge 12z for the spacer of the developing frame 12 are in close contact with the mating member, and are located between the opposing flat surfaces 12u of the developing frame 12 facing the concave surface 11k of the toner frame 11. A space where the periphery is closely attached is created. The cover film 51 and the tear tape 52 fit in this space.

In order to send out the toner stored in the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12, the end 52 of the tear tape 52 protruding outside the process cartridge B is required.
a (see FIG. 6), the root side of the handle member 11t is separated from the toner frame 11, or the handle member 11t is torn off.
When the operator pulls t by hand, the cover film 51
Is torn, the opening 11i of the toner frame 11 is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12. The flanges 1 of the toner frame 11 are maintained while the elastic sealing members 54 and 56 remain flat and cubic.
1j is deformed so that only the thickness becomes small at both ends in the longitudinal direction, so that the sealing property is good.

As described above, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12
When the force to tear the cover film 51 is applied to the tear tape 52, the tear tape 5
2 can be smoothly pulled out from between the two frame bodies 11 and 12.

Further, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12
When ultrasonic welding is performed, frictional heat is generated, and the triangular ridge 12v1 is melted by the frictional heat. Due to this frictional heat,
The toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 may be thermally deformed due to thermal stress. However, according to the present embodiment, the groove 11n of the toner frame 11 and the ridge 12v of the developing frame 12 are fitted over substantially the entire range in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the periphery of the welded portion is strengthened, so that thermal deformation due to thermal stress hardly occurs.

The material for forming the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 is a plastic such as polystyrene or AB.
S resin acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the toner frame 11 used in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a coupling surface JP where the toner frame 11 is coupled to the developing frame 12 in a substantially vertical direction.

VIII. Toner container 1 of toner frame 11
Configuration of 1A The toner frame 11 used in the present embodiment will be described in more detail. In order to efficiently drop the one-component toner stored in the toner container 11A in the direction of the opening 11i,
It has two slopes K and L. The slopes K and L are both provided over the entire width of the toner frame 11 in the longitudinal direction.
The slope L is arranged above the opening 11i, and the slope K is arranged on the back side of the opening 11i (in the shorter direction of the toner frame 11). The slope L is the upper frame 11
The slope K is formed by the lower frame 11b. The inclined surface L has a vertical direction or a lower surface than the vertical direction when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14. The angle θ3 of the slope K with respect to a line m orthogonal to the joint surface JP between the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 is about 20 to 40 degrees. In other words,
In this embodiment, when the lower frame 11b is coupled to the upper frame 11a, the shape of the upper frame 11a is defined so that the lower frame 11b can be installed at the installation angle. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the toner container 11A containing the toner efficiently stores the toner in the opening 11.
It can be supplied in the i direction.

IX. Configuration of Developing Frame 12 Next, the developing frame 12 will be described in more detail.

FIGS. 3, 14, and 1 show the developing frame 12.
5, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which each component is incorporated in the developing frame 12, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a side view showing the developing unit without the drive transmission unit DG attached thereto, FIG. 17 is a side view of the development unit drive transmission unit DG viewed from the inside, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the bearing box.

As described above, the developing frame 12 incorporates the developing roller 9c, the developing blade 9d, the toner stirring member 9e, and the antenna rod 9h for detecting the remaining amount of toner. The developing blade 9d has a thickness of 1 to
A urethane rubber 9d2 is fixed to a sheet metal 9d1 of about 2 mm with a hot melt, a double-sided adhesive tape, or the like. Dowels 1 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of a blade abutting plane 12i as a blade attachment portion provided on the developing frame 12.
2i1 (ell), a square projection 12i3, and a screw hole (female screw) 12i2 are provided. Therefore, the holes 9d3 and the cuts 9d5 provided in the sheet metal 9d1 are respectively fitted to the dowels 1
2i1, fitting to the projection 12i3. Then, the sheet metal 9d1
The small screw 9d6 is screwed into the female screw 12i2 by passing through the screw hole 9d4 provided in
Fixed to. An elastic seal member 12s such as a malt plane is attached to the developing frame 12 along the longitudinal direction above the metal plate 9d1 in order to prevent the toner from leaking outside. Further, an elastic seal member 12s1 is attached from both ends of the elastic seal member 12s to a circular arc surface 12j along the developing roller 9c. Further, a thin elastic seal member 12s2 that is in contact with the generatrix of the developing roller 9c is attached to the lower jaw 12h.

Here, one end of the sheet metal 9d1 of the developing blade 9d is bent by approximately 90 ° to form a bent portion 9d1a.

Next, the developing roller unit G shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Developing roller unit G
1) a developing roller 9c, 2) a spacer roller 9i for keeping the distance between the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 constant, and the spacer roller 9i is made of an electric insulating material made of synthetic resin. , Aluminum A of the photosensitive drum 7
The cylindrical cap made of 1 (ell) and the cylindrical cap made of aluminum (ell) of the developing roller 9c also serve as sleeve caps to cover both ends of the developing roller 9c so as not to leak. 3) Developing frame 1 by rotatably supporting developing roller 9c
A developing roller bearing 9j (particularly enlarged and shown in FIG. 14) for positioning at 4; 4) receiving a drive from a helical drum gear 7b provided on the photosensitive drum 7 to rotate the developing roller 9c. Developing roller gear 9k (helical gear), 5) developing coil spring contact 9l (L) having one end fitted to the end of developing roller 9c (see FIG. 18), and
6) Unitized by a magnet 9g provided inside the developing roller 9c and for attaching toner to the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c. In FIG. 14, the bearing housing 9v is already attached to the developing roller unit G, but the developing roller unit G is attached to the side plates 12A, 12B of the developing frame 12.
After the transfer, the bearing box 9v is joined to the bearing box 9v when the bearing box 9v is attached to the developing frame 12.

In the developing roller unit G, as shown in FIG. 14, a metal flange 9p is fitted and fixed to one end of the developing roller 9c. The developing roller gear mounting shaft portion 9p1 has a two-sided width portion in a cylindrical portion, and is fitted into the cylindrical portion with the two-sided width portion to be prevented from rotating and fitted with a developing roller gear 9k made of synthetic resin. . Developing roller gear 9k
This is a helical gear, and when rotated, the axial thrust is twisted so as to be directed toward the center of the developing roller 9c (see FIG. 31). D of magnet 9g passes through this flange 9p
The cut missing circular shaft 9g1 projects outside. One of the missing circular shafts 9g1 is connected to a drive transmission unit DG described later.
And is supported in a non-rotating manner. The developing roller bearing 9j described above is provided with a round hole having a detent protrusion 9j5 projecting inward. A C-shaped bearing 9j4 is just fitted in the round hole, and the flange 9p is rotatably fitted to the bearing 9j4. Mated. The developing roller bearing 9j is fitted into the slit 12f of the developing frame 12, and the projection 40f of the developing holder 40 is inserted into the hole 12g of the developing frame 12 and the hole 9j1 of the developing roller bearing 9j. It is held by fixing to. The bearing 9j4 is provided with a flange, and only the flange portion has a C-shape. The hole of the developing roller bearing 9j into which the bearing 9j1 is fitted is a stepped hole, and the rotation preventing projection 9j5 is a bearing 9j.
4 is provided at the large diameter portion into which the collar is fitted. The bearing 9j and a bearing 9f described later are made of polyacetal, polyamide, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 18, both ends of the magnet 9g through which the hollow cylindrical developing roller 9c is inserted project from the developing roller 9c to both ends.
The developing roller bearing box 9v is fitted into an invisible D-shaped support hole 9v3 which is provided on the upper side of the figure and is not visible. A hollow journal 9w made of an insulating member is fitted and fixed to the inner periphery of the end of the developing roller 9c, and the reduced-diameter cylindrical portion 9w integrated with the journal 9w.
Numeral 1 insulates between a developing coil spring contact 9l (ell) electrically connected to the developing roller 9c and the magnet 9g. The flanged bearing 9f is a synthetic resin insulator and fits in a bearing fitting hole 9v4 concentric with the magnet support hole 9v3.
The keyway 9v5 provided in the bearing fitting hole 9v4 has a bearing 9
The bearing 9f is prevented from rotating by fitting the key portion 9f1 provided integrally with f.

As shown in FIG. 18, the above-described bearing fitting hole 9
v4 has a bottom, and at the bottom, there is an inner end of the developing bias contact 121 in the form of a disc. When the developing roller 9c is assembled to the developing roller bearing box 9v, the metal developing coil spring contact 91 is contracted and pressed against the developing bias contact 121. The developing bias contact 121 is
A leading portion 121a that is bent from the outer diameter of the disc-shaped portion and fits in the axial recess 9v6 of the bearing fitting hole 9v4 to pass through the outside of the bearing 9f, and a bearing fitting following the first leading portion 121a. The second lead-out part 121b fitted in the notch 9v7 at the end of the mating hole 9v4 and bent, the third lead-out part 121c bent from the second lead-out part 121b, and the third lead-out part 121c It has a fourth lead-out portion 121d bent outward in the radial direction as viewed from the developing roller 9c, and an external contact portion 121e bent in the same direction from the fourth lead-out portion 121d. In order to support such a developing bias contact point 121, a supporting portion 9v8 protrudes toward the inside in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller bearing box 9v, and the supporting portion 9v8 is a third and fourth lead-out portion 121.
c, 121d and the external contact portion 121e. Also,
The second lead-out portion 121b has a stop hole 121f that is pressed into a dowel 9v9 that projects inward in the longitudinal direction on the back side of the developing roller bearing box 9v. The external contact portion 121e of the developing bias contact 121 comes into contact with a developing bias contact member 125 of the apparatus main body 14 described later when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14. As a result, a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 9c.

To fix the developing roller bearing box 9v to the developing frame 12, two cylindrical projections 9v1 provided on the developing roller bearing box 9v are connected to one side in the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12 shown in FIG. The developing roller bearing box 9v is positioned with respect to the developing frame 12 by fitting into the hole 12m provided at the end. Then, the developing roller bearing box 9v is fixed to the developing frame 12 by inserting a small screw (not shown) into the female screw 12c of the developing frame 12 through the screw hole 9v2 of the developing roller bearing box 9v.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the developing roller 9c is mounted on the developing frame 12, the developing roller unit G is first assembled. Then, the assembled developing roller unit G is attached to the developing frame 12.

The assembly of the developing roller unit G is performed in the following steps. First, a magnet 9g is inserted into a developing roller 9c in which a flange 9p is incorporated, and a journal 9w and a developing coil spring contact 9l are attached to one end of the developing roller 9c.
(L), spacer rollers 9i are attached to both ends, and developing roller bearings 9j are attached outside the spacer rollers 9i. Next, the developing roller gear 9k is mounted on the developing roller gear mounting shaft 9p1 at one end of the developing roller 9c. At both ends of the developing roller 9c to which the developing roller gear 9k is attached, a magnet 9g having a D-cut end is provided.
9g1 is projected. In this way,
The developing roller unit G is configured. In FIG. 19, reference numeral 12p denotes an opening, which is provided along the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12. And this opening 12p
Faces the opening 11i of the toner frame 11 in a state where the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are combined.
Then, the toner contained in the toner frame 11 can be supplied to the developing roller 9c. In addition, this opening 12p
The toner agitating member 9e and the antenna rod 9h are attached along the entire width in the longitudinal direction.

Next, the antenna rod 9h for detecting the remaining amount of toner will be described. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, one end of the antenna rod 9h is bent in a crank shape. The contact portion 9h1 (toner remaining amount detecting contact 122) at one end contacts and electrically connects to a toner detecting contact member 126 described later attached to the apparatus main body 14. In order to attach the antenna rod 9h to the developing frame 12, first attach the tip of the antenna rod 9h to the side plate 1 of the developing frame 12.
It penetrates through hole 12b provided in 2B and is inserted inside. Then, the front end is supported by a hole (not shown) provided on the opposite side surface of the developing frame 12. As described above, the antenna rod 9h is positioned and supported by the through hole 12b and the hole (not shown). A seal member (not shown) (for example, a synthetic resin ring, felt, sponge, or the like) is inserted into the through hole 12b to prevent toner from entering.

When the developing roller bearing box 9v is mounted on the developing frame 12, the arm portion of the crank-shaped contact portion 9h1 prevents the antenna rod 9h from moving, and the antenna rod 9h moves outside. It is in a position where it does not escape toward you.

Here, the side plate 12A of the developing frame 12 on the side where the tip of the antenna rod 9h is inserted extends to the side of the toner frame 11 when the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are joined. And partially covers the toner cap 11f facing the toner cap 11f provided on the toner lower frame 11b. The side plate 12A has holes 12x as shown in FIG.
The shaft coupling 9s1 (see FIG. 15) of the toner feed gear 9s for transmitting a driving force to the toner feed member 9b is inserted into the hole 12x. This toner feed gear 9s is connected to a coupling member 11e (see FIGS. 16 and 20) which is engaged with an end of the toner feed member 9b and is rotatably supported by the toner frame 11, thereby forming a toner feed member. The shaft joint 9s1 for transmitting the driving force to the shaft 9b is integrally provided.

As shown in FIG. 19, a toner stirring member 9e is rotatably supported by the developing frame 12 in parallel with the antenna rod 9h. The toner agitating member 9e has a crank shape, and one journal (hereinafter, referred to as a non-drive end) is fitted into a bearing hole 12B1 of the side plate 12B shown in FIG. 14, and the other journal (hereinafter, referred to as a drive end). ) Is FIG.
Is fitted into a toner stirring gear 9m integrally having a shaft rotatably supported by the side plate 12A, and the crank arm is hooked into a notch of the shaft to form a stirring gear 9m.
Is transmitted to the toner stirring member 9e.
The support structure of the non-drive end and the drive end of the toner stirring member 9e will be described later.

X. Transmission of Driving Force to Developing Unit D Next, transmission of driving force to the developing unit D will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15, the support hole 40a of the developing holder 40 is fitted into the non-circular shaft 9g1 of the D-cut magnet 9g and is supported non-rotatably. When the developing holder 40 is attached to the developing frame 12, the developing roller gear 9k meshes with the gear 9q of the gear train GT, and the toner stirring gear 9m meshes with the small gear 9s2. As a result, the toner feed gear 9s
Further, the toner stirring gear 9m can receive the transmission of the driving force from the developing roller gear 9k.

The gears from the gear 9q to the toner feed gear 9s are all idler gears. A gear 9q meshing with the developing roller gear 9k and a small gear 9q1 integral with the gear 9q are rotatably supported by a dowel 40b integral with the developing holder 40. The large gear 9r meshing with the small gear 9q1 and this gear 9
The small gear 9r1 integral with r is rotatably supported by a dowel 40c integral with the developing holder 40. The small gear 9r1 meshes with the toner feed gear 9s. 9s toner feed gear
Is rotatably supported by a dowel 40d provided integrally with the developing holder 40. The toner feed gear 9s is a shaft coupling 9s.
One. A small gear 9s2 meshes with the toner feed gear 9s. The small gear 9s2 is rotatably supported by a dowel 40e provided integrally with the developing holder 40. The dowels 40b, 40c, 40d, and 40e have a diameter of about 5 to 6 mm and support each gear of the gear train GT.

With the above configuration, the same members (the developing holder 40 in the present embodiment) can support the gears constituting the gear train. Therefore, regarding the assembly, the gear train GT can be partially assembled to the developing holder 40, and the assembling process can be dispersed and simplified. That is, after the antenna rod 9h and the toner stirring member 9e are mounted on the developing frame 12, the developing roller unit G is mounted on the developing unit drive transmission unit DG, and the gear box 9v is mounted on the developing frame 12 at the same time as the assembling developing unit. Complete D.

The material for forming the developing frame 12 is the same as the material for the toner frame 11 described above.

XI. Configuration of Electrical Contacts of Process Cartridge B Next, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, connection and arrangement of contacts for electrically connecting the two are shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11. , FIG. 2
The description will be made with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the process cartridge B is provided with a plurality of electrical contacts. 1. In order to ground the photosensitive drum 7 to the apparatus main body 14, a cylindrical guide 13aL is used as a conductive ground contact electrically connected to the photosensitive drum 7 (in the case where it is described as a conductive ground contact). 2. A conductive charging bias contact 120 electrically connected to the charging roller shaft 8a to apply a charging bias to the charging roller 8 from the apparatus main body 14, and 3. an apparatus main body to the developing roller 9c. A conductive developing bias contact 121 electrically connected to the developing roller 9c to apply a developing bias from the developing roller 9; 4. a conductive toner remaining electrically connected to the antenna rod 9h to detect the remaining amount of toner. Four contact points of the quantity detection contacts 122 are provided so as to be exposed from the side and bottom surfaces of the cartridge frame.
The four contacts 119 to 122 are all provided on the left side surface and the bottom surface of the cartridge frame when viewed from the mounting direction of the process cartridge B, with a distance such that the contacts do not electrically leak. The ground contact 11
9 and the charging bias contact 120 are provided on the cleaning unit C, and the developing bias contact 121 and the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 are provided on the developing frame 12. The toner remaining amount detection contact 122 also serves as a process cartridge presence / absence detection contact for causing the apparatus main body 14 to detect that the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14.

As shown in FIG.
Is provided integrally with the flange 29 made of a conductive material as described above. Further, the drum shaft 7a integrated with the flange 29 is provided coaxially with the ground contact member 119, and the drum shaft 7a is electrically connected to the drum cylinder 7d. The earth plate 7f is pressed out and guided to the outside. In the present embodiment, the flange 29 is made of metal such as iron. Another charging bias contact 12
0, the thickness of the developing bias contact 121 is about 0.1 mm
A conductive metal plate (for example, stainless steel, phosphor bronze) of about 0.3 mm is stretched from inside the process cartridge. The charging bias contact 120 is exposed from the bottom surface of the cleaning unit C opposite to the driving side, and the developing bias contact 121 and the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 are provided so as to be exposed from the bottom surface of the developing unit D opposite to the driving side.

This will be described in more detail.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 11, a helical drum gear 7b is provided at one end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction. The drum gear 7b meshes with the developing roller gear 9k, and
Rotate c. The drum gear 7b generates a thrust force (in the direction of arrow d shown in FIG. 11) when rotating,
The photosensitive drum 7 provided on the cleaning frame 13 with play in the longitudinal direction is urged toward the side where the drum gear 7b is provided, and the ground plate 7f fixed to the spur gear 7n causes the drum shaft 7f to rotate. A reaction force that presses 7a is applied in the direction of arrow d. Then, the side end 7b1 of the drum gear 7b abuts on the inner end face 38b of the bearing 38 fixed to the cleaning frame 13. As a result, the position of the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction is defined inside the process cartridge B. The ground contact 119 is provided so as to be exposed at one side end 13k of the cleaning frame 13. The drum shaft 7a enters the center of a drum cylinder 7d (made of aluminum in the present embodiment) covered with the photosensitive layer 7e. The inner surface 7d1 of the drum cylinder 7d and the drum shaft 7a
The drum cylinder 7d and the drum shaft 7a are electrically connected by an earth plate 7f that comes into contact with the end surface 7a1 of the drum cylinder.

The charging bias contact 120 is provided near the portion of the cleaning frame 13 supporting the charging roller 8 (see FIG. 8). The charging bias contact point 120 is electrically connected to the shaft 8a of the charging roller 8 via a composite spring 8b in contact with the charging roller shaft 8a as shown in FIG. The composite spring 8b is provided on a guide groove 13 substantially on a line connecting the charging roller 8 and the center of the photosensitive drum 7 provided on the cleaning frame 13.
g and the guide groove 13
g has an internal contact 8b2 that presses against the charging roller shaft 8a from the end portion of the compression coil spring portion 8b1 of the composite spring 8b compressed between the spring seats 120b at one end. As shown in FIG. 23, the charging bias contact 120 enters the cleaning frame 13 from the externally exposed portion 120a, and is bent so as to cross the moving direction of the charging roller shaft 8a at one end of the charging roller 8 to form a spring. The seat 120b terminates.

Next, the developing bias contact 121 and the remaining toner detecting contact 122 will be described. These two contacts 1
Reference numerals 21 and 122 denote one side end 13k of the cleaning frame 13.
It is provided on the bottom surface of the developing unit D provided on the same side as. The third contact of the developing bias contact 121
, That is, the external contact portion 121e is disposed on the opposite side of the charging bias contact 120 with the spur gear 7n therebetween. Then, as described above, the developing bias contact 121 is electrically connected to the developing roller 9c via a developing coil spring contact 91 (conductive portion) which is electrically connected to a side end of the developing roller 9c (FIG. 18). reference).

FIG. 31 schematically shows the relationship between the thrust generated in the drum gear 7b and the developing roller gear 9k and the developing bias contact 121. As described above, the photosensitive drum 7 is moved in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 31 by driving, and the end face on the drum gear 7b side contacts the end face of the bearing 38 not shown in FIG. The longitudinal position is constant. On the other hand, the developing roller gear 9k meshing with the drum gear 7b receives the thrust in the direction of arrow e opposite to the arrow d, presses the developing coil spring contact 91 pressing the developing bias contact 121, and the developing roller 9c and the developing roller 9c. The pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow f by the developing coil spring contact 91 acting on the bearing 9j is reduced. Thus, the contact between the developing coil spring contact 91 and the developing bias contact 121 is ensured, and the end surface of the developing roller 9c and the developing roller bearing 9 are contacted.
j The frictional resistance between the end surfaces is reduced, and the rotation of the developing roller 9c is made smooth.

Also, the toner remaining amount detecting contact 12 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a developing frame 12 upstream of the developing bias contact 121 with respect to the cartridge mounting direction (X direction in FIG. 9).
It is provided to be exposed from. As shown in FIG. 19, the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 is connected to the developing roller 9c.
A conductive material provided on the developing frame 12 along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c on the side of the toner frame 11;
For example, it is a part of a metal wire antenna rod 9h. As described above, the antenna rod 9h is provided at a position spaced apart from the developing roller 9c by a fixed distance over the entire length of the developing roller 9c in the longitudinal direction. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the process cartridge B comes into contact with the toner detection contact member 126 on the apparatus main body 14 side. And this antenna rod 9
The capacitance between h and the developing roller 9c changes depending on the amount of toner existing between them. Therefore, the change in the capacitance is detected as a change in the potential by a control unit (not shown) which is electrically connected to the toner detection contact member 126 of the apparatus main body 14, thereby detecting the remaining amount of toner. is there.

Here, the remaining amount of toner means the developing roller 9
The amount of toner existing between c and the antenna rod 9h is the amount of toner that produces a predetermined capacitance. This makes it possible to detect that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11A has reached a predetermined amount. Therefore, the control unit provided in the apparatus main body 14 detects that the capacitance has reached the first predetermined value via the toner remaining amount detection contact 122, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11A is reduced. It is determined that the predetermined amount has been reached. When detecting that the capacitance has reached the first predetermined value, the apparatus main body 14
(For example, flashing of a lamp, generation of a sound by a buzzer). Further, the control unit detects the second predetermined value at which the capacitance is smaller than the first predetermined value, and thereby causes the process cartridge B to be in the apparatus main assembly 1.
4 is detected. Further, the control unit includes:
If it is not detected that the process cartridge B is mounted, the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 14 is not started. That is, the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 14 is not started.

It is also possible to notify that the process cartridge is not mounted (for example, blinking of a lamp).

XII. Configuration of Connection Member of Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 14 Next, connection between a contact provided on the process cartridge B and a contact member provided on the apparatus main body 14 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, on the inner surface on one side of the cartridge mounting space S of the image forming apparatus A,
When the process cartridge B is mounted, four contact members (the ground contact member 12 that is electrically connected to the ground contact 119) can be connected to the respective contacts 119 to 122.
3, a charging contact member 124 electrically connected to the charging bias contact 120, a developing bias contact member 125 electrically connected to the developing bias contact 121, and a toner detection contact member 126 electrically connected to the remaining toner detection contact 122. )
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ground contact member 123 is provided at the bottom of the positioning groove 16b. The developing bias contact member 125, the toner detecting contact member 126, and the charging contact member 124 are located below the guide portion 16a.
Outside the guide portion 16a, it is elastically provided below the wall surface on one side of the cartridge mounting space S beside the guide portion 16a.

Here, the positional relationship between each contact and the guide will be described.

First, in FIG. 6 in a state where the process cartridge B is substantially horizontal, in the vertical direction, the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 is located at the lowest position, the developing bias contact 121 is located above it, the charging bias contact 120 is located above it, and the charging bias contact 120 is located above it. The detent guide 13bL and the cylindrical guide 13aL (earth contact 119) are arranged at substantially the same height. Further, in the cartridge mounting direction (the direction of the arrow X), the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 is located at the most upstream, and the detent guide 13bL and the developing bias contact 121 are located at the downstream.
Next, a cylindrical guide 13aL (earth contact 1)
19) And a charging bias contact 120 is arranged downstream of the charging bias contact 120. With such an arrangement, the charging bias contact 120 approaches the charging roller 8, the developing bias contact 121 approaches the developing roller 9c, the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 approaches the antenna rod 9h, and
The ground contact 119 can be brought close to the photosensitive drum 7. In this manner, the electrodes of the process cartridge B and the image forming apparatus main body 14 do not wander, and the distance between the contacts can be reduced.

Here, the size of the contact portion of each contact with the contact member is as follows. First, the charging bias contact 120
Is about 10.0 mm both vertically and horizontally, the developing bias contact 121 is about 6.5 mm vertically, about 7.5 mm horizontally, and the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 is 2 mm in diameter and about 18.0 inches long.
mm and the ground contact 119 is circular and has an outer diameter of about 1 mm.
0.0 mm. Note that the aforementioned charging bias contact 120,
The developing bias contact 121 is rectangular. Here, the vertical direction of the contact is a direction according to the mounting direction X of the process cartridge B, and the horizontal direction is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction X.

The ground contact member 123 is a conductive leaf spring member.
19, that is, the ground contact member 123 is mounted in the positioning groove 16b into which the cylindrical guide 13aL (where the drum shaft 7a is positioned) fits (FIGS. 9 and 1).
1, see FIG. 30), which is grounded via the apparatus body chassis. The toner remaining amount detecting contact member 126 is a conductive leaf spring member provided below the guide portion 16a and beside the guide portion 16a. Another contact member 12
4, 125, the guide 16 is located below the guide portion 16a.
a, which are attached by the compression coil springs 129 so as to protrude upward from the holder 127, respectively. This will be described using the charging contact member 124 as an example. As shown in an enlarged manner in a part of FIG. 30, the charging contact member 124 is attached to the holder 127 so as not to fall off and protrude upward. Then, the holder 127 is attached to the apparatus main body 1.
4, and each contact member is electrically connected to the wiring pattern by a conductive compression spring 129.

When the process cartridge B is inserted into the main body 14 of the image forming apparatus and mounted by being guided by the guide portion 16a, before reaching the predetermined mounting position, each of the contact members 123 to 126 has a spring force. In a protruding state.
At this time, the contacts 119 to 122 of the process cartridge B are not in contact with the contact members 123 to 126. When the insertion of the process cartridge B further proceeds, each contact member 123 to 126 is attached to each contact 11 of the process cartridge B.
9 to 122 come into contact with each other and further proceed slightly, and the cylindrical guide 13aL of the process cartridge B is moved into the positioning groove 16b.
, Each of the contacts 119 to 122 retreats each of the contact members 123 to 126 against their elasticity, thereby increasing the contact pressure.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the process cartridge B is guided by the guide member 16 and is mounted at a predetermined mounting position, the respective contacts are securely connected to the respective contact members.

When the process cartridge B is mounted at a predetermined position, the ground contact member 123 comes into contact with the ground contact 119 protruding from the cylindrical guide 13aL (see FIG. 11). Here, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the ground contact 119 and the ground contact member 123 are provided.
Are electrically connected, and the photosensitive drum 7 is grounded.
Further, the charging bias contact 120 and the charging contact member 124 are electrically connected, and a high voltage (AC voltage and D
C voltage) is applied. Also, developing bias contact 1
21 and the developing bias contact member 125 are electrically connected, and a high voltage is applied to the developing roller 9c. Moreover,
Toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 and toner detecting contact member 126
Are electrically connected, and the contact 122 and the developing roller 9c
Information corresponding to the capacitance between the two is transmitted to the apparatus main body 14.

Further, since the contacts 119 to 122 of the process cartridge B are provided on the bottom side of the process cartridge B as in the present embodiment, the position accuracy in the left-right direction with respect to the mounting direction arrow X of the process cartridge B is not affected. .

Further, since all the contacts of the process cartridge B are all disposed on one side of the cartridge frame as in the above-described embodiment, the mechanical mechanism members and the electrical wiring related members for the image forming apparatus main body 14 and the process cartridge B are provided. Can be separately arranged on both sides of the cartridge mounting space S and the process cartridge B, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the maintenance and inspection can be facilitated.

When the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, as described later, the process cartridge side coupling device and the main body side coupling are connected in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing member 35, and The body drum 7 and the like are rotatable by being driven by the apparatus main body 14.

As described above, the process cartridge B
Are arranged on one side of the cartridge frame, electrical connection with the image forming apparatus main body 14 can be performed stably.

Alternatively, as described in the above embodiment, each contact 119
By arranging ~ 122, the wandering of the electrodes in the cartridge of each contact can be reduced.

XIII. Configuration of Driving Force Transmission Mechanism Next, from the image forming apparatus body 14 to the process cartridge B
The configuration of the coupling means, which is a driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force to the motor, will be described.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling portion showing a state where the photosensitive drum 7 is attached to the process cartridge B.

As shown in FIG. 11, a cartridge-side coupling means is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7 attached to the process cartridge B. In this coupling means, a coupling convex shaft 37 (cylindrical shape) is provided on a drum flange 36 fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 7, and a convex portion 37 a is formed on the tip end surface of the convex shaft 37. I have. The protrusion 37a
Are parallel to the end surface of the convex shaft 37. The convex shaft 37 is fitted to a bearing 38 and functions as a drum rotating shaft. In the present embodiment, the drum flange 36, the coupling convex shaft 37 and the convex portion 37a are provided integrally. The drum flange 36 transmits a driving force to the developing roller 9c inside the process cartridge B.
The helical drum gear 7b is provided integrally. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 11, the drum flange 36 is an integrally molded product having the drum gear 7b, the convex shaft 37, and the convex portion 37a, and is a driving force transmitting component having a function of transmitting driving force.

The shape of the convex portion 37a is a twisted polygonal pillar, specifically, a pillar having a substantially triangular cross section and a shape slightly twisted in the axial direction and gradually in the rotational direction.
The concave portion 39a fitted with the convex portion 37a is a hole having a polygonal cross section and being gradually twisted in the axial direction and gradually in the rotational direction. The convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a have substantially the same twist pitch, and are twisted in the same direction. The cross section of the recess 39a is substantially triangular. The concave portion 39a is provided on a coupling concave shaft 39b integral with the gear 43 provided on the apparatus main body 14. The coupling concave shaft 39b is provided on the apparatus main body 14 so as to be rotatable and axially movable as described later. Therefore,
In the configuration of the present embodiment, the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, and the convex portion 37 a and the concave portion 39 a
When the rotational force is transmitted to the convex portion 37a, the ridge lines of the convex portion 37a of the substantially equilateral triangular prism and the inner surface of the concave portion 39a abut equally, so that the axes coincide with each other. For this reason, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the coupling convex portion 37a is equal to the coupling concave portion 39a.
And the coupling recess 39a
It is manufactured smaller than the circumscribed circle. Further, a force acts in a direction in which the concave portion 39a draws the convex portion 37a due to the twist shape, and the convex end face 37a1 comes into contact with the bottom 39a1 of the concave portion 39a. Therefore, the thrust generated in the coupling portion and the drum gear 7b acts in the same direction as the arrow d, so that the photosensitive drum 7 integrated with the convex portion 37a is moved in the axial direction in the image forming apparatus main body 14. The position and the position in the radial direction are determined stably.

In this embodiment, when viewed from the photosensitive drum 7 side, the twisting direction of the convex portion 37a is opposite to the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 7 from the root of the convex portion 37a to the tip. The direction of the torsion of the concave portion 39a is the opposite direction from the entrance of the concave portion 39a toward the inside, and the direction of the torsion of the drum gear 7b of the drum flange 36 is the opposite direction to the torsion direction of the convex portion 37a.

Here, the convex shaft 37 and the convex portion 37a are
When the drum flange 36 is attached to one end of the photosensitive drum 7, the drum flange 36 is provided on the drum flange 36 so as to be located coaxially with the axis of the photosensitive drum 7. Reference numeral 36b denotes a fitting portion which is fitted to the inner surface of the drum cylinder 7d when the drum flange 36 is mounted on the photosensitive drum 7. The drum flange 36 is attached to the photosensitive drum 7 by "caulking" or "adhesion". The photosensitive layer 7e is coated around the drum cylinder 7d.

As described above, a spur gear 7n is fixed to the other end of the photosensitive drum 7.

The drum flange 36 and the spur gear 7n are made of polyacetal.
tal), polycarbonate (polycarbona)
te), polyamide (polyamide) and polybutylene terephthalate (polybutylene)
A resin material such as telephthalate is used. However, other materials may be appropriately selected and used.

A cylindrical projection 38a (cylindrical guide 13aR) concentric with the projection 37 is fixed to the cleaning frame 13 around the projection 37a of the coupling projection 37 of the process cartridge B. 38 are provided integrally (see FIG. 11). The convex portion 38a protects the convex portion 37a of the coupling convex shaft 37 when the process cartridge B is attached and detached, and protects it from damage and deformation due to external force. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rattling or vibration during coupling driving due to damage to the convex portion 37a.

Further, the bearing 38 can also serve as a guide member when the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 14. That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the bearing 3
8 comes into contact with the main body side guide portion 16c,
The convex portion 38a functions as a positioning guide 13aR when the process cartridge B is mounted at the mounting position, and facilitates attachment and detachment of the process cartridge B to and from the apparatus main body 14. When the process cartridge B is mounted at the mounting position, the projection 38a is supported by the positioning groove 16d provided in the guide 16c.

Further, the photosensitive drum 7, the drum flange 36, and the coupling convex shaft 37 have a relationship as shown in FIG. That is, the outer diameter of the photosensitive drum 7 =
H, root diameter of drum gear 7b = E, bearing diameter of photosensitive drum 7 (outer diameter of shaft coupling convex shaft 37, bearing 38)
= F, circumscribed circle diameter of coupling convex portion 37a =
M, H> F ≧ M and E> N, where M is the diameter of the fitting portion (drum inner diameter) of the photosensitive drum 7 with the drum flange 36.
There is a relationship.

By the above H> F, the sliding load torque at the bearing portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the drum cylinder 7d is supported.
When the flange portion is formed due to the relationship of M, the mold is normally cut in the direction of arrow P in the figure. However, since the undercut portion is eliminated, the structure of the mold can be simplified.

Further, because of the relationship of E> N, the shape of the gear portion is provided on the left mold as viewed from the mounting direction of the process cartridge B, so that the right mold is simplified and the durability of the mold is improved. And so on.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus main body 14 is provided with main body coupling means. The main body coupling means is provided with a coupling concave shaft 39 at a position coinciding with the photosensitive drum rotation axis when the process cartridge B is inserted.
b (cylindrical shape) is provided (see FIGS. 11 and 25). As shown in FIG. 11, the coupling concave shaft 39b is a drive shaft integrated with the large gear 43 for transmitting the driving force of the motor 61 to the photosensitive drum 7. (The concave shaft 39b is the rotation center of the large gear 43 and is provided so as to protrude from the side end of the large gear 43 (FIGS. 25 and 2).
6))). In the present embodiment, the large gear 43 and the coupling concave shaft 39b are formed by integral molding.

The large gear 43 on the side of the apparatus main body 14 is a helical gear.
a small helical gear 62 fixed to or integral with
And teeth having a twist direction and an inclination angle that generate a thrust for moving the concave shaft 39b toward the convex shaft 37 when a driving force is transmitted from the small gear 62.
Thus, when the motor 61 is driven during image formation, the thrust forces the concave shaft 39b to move in the direction of the convex shaft 37, so that the concave portion 39a and the convex portion 37a are engaged. The recess 3
9a is a tip of the concave shaft 39b and the concave shaft 39b
Are provided at the center of rotation.

In this embodiment, the motor shaft 61a
Although the driving force is transmitted directly from the small gear 62 provided to the large gear 43, deceleration and drive transmission are performed using a gear train.
Alternatively, a belt and a pulley, a friction roller pair, a timing belt and a pulley may be used.

Next, a configuration in which the concave portion 39a and the convex portion 37a are fitted together with the closing operation of the opening / closing member 35 as shown in FIG.
4, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 29, a side plate 67 is fixedly provided with a side plate 66 provided on the apparatus main body 14 and the large gear 43 interposed therebetween, and these side plates 66, 67 are integrally formed at the center of the large gear 43. The provided coupling concave shaft 39b is rotatably supported. An outer cam 6 is provided between the large gear 43 and the side plate 66.
3 and the inner cam 64 are densely inserted. The inner cam 64 is fixed to the side plate 66, and the outer cam 63 is rotatably fitted to the coupling concave shaft 39b. The axially opposed surface of the outer cam 63 and the inner cam 64 is a cam surface, which is a threaded surface that is in contact with the coupling concave shaft 39b. A compression coil spring 68 is compressed between the large gear 43 and the side plate 67 and inserted into the coupling concave shaft 39b.

As shown in FIG. 27, an arm 63a is provided radially from the outer periphery of the outer cam 63.
Of the opening and closing member 3 from the fulcrum 35a of the opening and closing member 35
27, the position of the end opposite to the open side end of the opening / closing member 35 in the diagonal direction toward the lower left in FIG. 27 is connected to one end of one link 65 by a pin 65a. . The other end of the link 65 is connected to the tip of the arm 63a by a pin 65b.

FIG. 28 is a view of FIG. 27 as viewed from the right. When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the link 65, the outer cam 63 and the like are at the positions shown in FIG.
And the concave portion 39a are engaged with each other, so that the driving force of the large gear 43 can be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 7. When the opening / closing member 35 is opened, the pin 65a rotates about the fulcrum 35a and rises, the arm 63a is pulled up via the link 65, and the outer cam 63 rotates, so that the outer cam 63 and the inner cam 64 face each other. The cam surface slides and the large gear 43 moves in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 7. At this time, the large gear 43 is pushed by the outer cam 63, and moves while pressing the compression coil spring 68 attached between the side plate 67 and the large gear 39.
As shown in (5), the coupling concave portion 39a is separated from the coupling convex portion 37a, the coupling is released, and the process cartridge B becomes detachable.

Conversely, when the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the opening / closing member 3 is closed.
The pin 65a connecting the link 5 and the link 65 is connected to a fulcrum 35a.
The link 65 moves downward, the link 65 moves downward to push down the arm 63a, and the outer cam 63 rotates in the opposite direction and is pushed by the spring 68, so that the large gear 43 moves leftward from FIG. 28, the large gear 43 is set again to the position shown in FIG. 28, the coupling concave portion 39a is fitted into the coupling convex portion 37a, and the state returns to a state where the drive can be transmitted. With such a configuration, the process cartridge B can be made detachable and drivable according to the opening and closing of the opening and closing member 35. When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the outer cam 63 rotates in the reverse direction, the large gear 43 moves leftward from FIG. 29, and the coupling concave shaft 39b and the end surface of the coupling convex shaft 37 come into contact with each other to form the coupling convex portion 37a.
Even if the coupling concave portion 39a does not engage with the coupling concave portion 39a, the engagement immediately after the start of the image forming apparatus A as described later.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the process cartridge B is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 14, the opening / closing member 35 is opened. In conjunction with the opening and closing of the opening and closing member 35, the coupling recess 39a is moved in the horizontal direction (arrow j).
Direction). Therefore, when the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14, the coupling (37a, 39a) between the process cartridge B and the apparatus main body 14 is not connected. They are not linked. Therefore, the process cartridge B can be smoothly attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14. Further, in the present embodiment, the large gear 43 is pushed by the compression coil spring 68 in the coupling recess 39a, so that the process cartridge B
Is pressed in the direction of. Then, the coupling convex part 3
Even when the coupling protrusion 37a and the concave portion 39a collide with each other and do not mesh well when the concave portion 7a and the concave portion 39a are engaged with each other, the motor 61 rotates only after the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, whereby the coupling concave portion As the 39a rotates, the two instantly mesh with each other.

That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the cylindrical guide 13aL formed on the flange 29 mounted on the other end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction.
(See FIGS. 6, 7, and 9) The flat gear is formed into the positioning groove 16b (see FIG. 9) of the apparatus main body 14 so as to be fitted and fitted without any gap, and molded integrally with the flange 29. 7n meshes with a gear (not shown) for transmitting a driving force to the transfer roller 4. On the other hand, at one end (drive side) in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7, a cylindrical guide 13 aR provided in the cleaning frame 13 is supported by a positioning groove 16 b provided in the apparatus main body 14. When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the coupling concave portion 39a moves horizontally and enters the coupling convex portion 37a (see FIG. 28).

Then, at the time of image formation, the coupling convex portion 3 is formed.
When the coupling concave shaft 39b rotates with the coupling 7a inserted into the coupling concave portion 39a, as shown in FIG. 32B, the inner surface 39a1 of the coupling concave portion 39a and the substantially regular triangular prism 3 of the coupling convex portion 37a. Point ridge 37a
1 and the driving force is transmitted. At this time, the coupling convex shaft 37 is instantaneously moved so that the inner surface 39a1 of the coupling concave portion 39a and the ridge line 37a1 of the coupling convex portion 37a abut equally (FIG. 32 (a)).
From the state shown in FIG. 32 to the state shown in FIG. ) Then, the coupling convex portion 37a and the coupling concave portion 39
Since a is a substantially equilateral triangle, the coupling convex shaft 37 and the coupling concave shaft 39b are formed in a state where the contact force is uniform.
The axes of the two coincide. That is, when the coupling convex portion 37a enters the coupling concave portion 39a, the rotational center X1 of the coupling convex portion 37a and the rotational center X2 of the coupling concave portion 39a are displaced from each other (FIG. 32A). . Then, the coupling concave portion 39a starts rotating and the three ridge lines 37a of the coupling convex portion 37a are formed.
When the rotation centers X1 and X2 are in contact with each other, the rotation centers X1 and X2 substantially coincide with each other.

XIV. Supporting Structure of Toner Stirring Member 9e for Preventing Generation of Coarse Toners When the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14 as described above, the process cartridge B is linked to the closing operation of the opening / closing member 35. The side coupling device and the main body side coupling are coupled to each other, and the photosensitive drum 7 rotates by being driven by the device main body 14, and is driven by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7, and the toner feeding member 9 b, the developing roller 9 c, The toner stirring member 9e and the like become rotatable.
Thereby, the toner in the toner container 11A of the toner frame 11 is sent out into the developing chamber of the developing frame 12 by the rotation of the toner feeding member 9b of the developing means 9, and the toner sent into the developing chamber is a toner stirring member 9e. The fluidity is sufficiently enhanced by the rotation of the developing blade 9 and the developing blade 9
The charge d is applied to the surface of the developing roller 9c by applying a triboelectric charge.

As described above, when the toner is stirred in the developing chamber of the developing frame 12 by the rotation of the toner stirring member 9e, the developing frame supporting the non-driving side end of the toner stirring member 9e. The toner enters the bearing holes (holes) 12B1 of the side plates 12B (see FIG. 14) of the side plate 12B,
Due to the rotation of the toner stirring member 9e, the outer peripheral surface of the non-drive side end and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole are rubbed, and pressure and frictional heat are applied to the toner, and finally the toner melts and solidifies. The toner may be coarse.

When the coarse toner particles thus formed enter between the developing roller 9c and the developing blade 9d which comes into contact with the developing roller 9c and charges the toner, even if the developing roller 9c is rotated, the coarse toner particles are generated. May stay there. When the toner coarse particles stay between the developing roller 9c and the developing blade 9d, a gap is generated between the developing roller 9c and the developing blade 9d, and no charge is applied to the toner in that portion, so that a normal state is obtained. No development takes place,
As a result, white spots occur in the image transferred to the recording medium 2.

The toner melting / solidification phenomenon is used to shorten the time from the start of the printing operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus A to the first print, that is, the fixing roller of the fixing means 5 in the image forming apparatus main body 14. 5b performs a fixing function at a temperature as close to room temperature as possible, and thus tends to occur in the low melting point toner when the toner is fixed on the recording medium 2 at a low temperature.

The following reasons can be considered as causes of the melting and solidification of the toner. First, a bearing hole is formed in a blind hole (blind hole) having a draft of usually 1 ° or less for removing a molding die, and the bearing hole has a draft angle smaller than a specified draft. When the toner agitating member 9e is attached to the developing frame 12, the central axis of the bearing hole is shifted from the non-drive-side end when the toner agitating member 9e is attached to the developing frame 12, so that the toner entering the bearing hole is agitated. Due to the rotation of the member 9e, the outer peripheral surface of the non-drive end and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole are rubbed and melted and solidified. Second, the toner stirring member 9
If there is a variation in the bending angle of the end crank portion of e, or the end crank portion oscillates due to the deflection of the toner stirring member 9e during stirring, the toner that has entered the bearing hole is rotated by the rotation of the toner stirring member 9e so that the toner is not driven. The outer peripheral surface of the end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole are rubbed and melted and solidified.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent the generation of the coarse toner particles, the toner agitating member 9e is mounted as shown in FIG.
It was configured to be supported by a support structure as shown in FIG.

The support structure of the toner stirring member 9e for preventing the generation of the toner coarse particles will be described below in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 33 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a structure for supporting the toner stirring member by the developing frame, and FIG. 33 (b) is a structure for supporting the driving side end of the toner stirring member by the developing frame (FIG. FIG. 3C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion A shown in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a supporting structure (FIG.
FIG. 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion B shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 33 (a), the toner stirring member 9e has a driving end 9e1 and a non-driving end 9e2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
By forming the crank portions 9e11 and 9e21 before e2, the stirring radius at the time of stirring is increased to improve the stirring performance of the toner. Toner stirring member 9
The drive-side end 9e1 of e is supported by the side plate 12A of the developing frame 12 via the stirring gear 9m, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 33 (c), the non-driving side end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e has a blind hole (blind hole) as a hole recessed in the side plate 12B of the developing frame 12.
12B1 is loosely fitted and supported.

As shown in FIG. 33 (c), the non-drive end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e is loosely fitted and supported in the blind hole 12B1 formed in the side plate 12B of the developing frame 12 as shown in FIG. In order to prevent the occurrence of coarse particles of the toner, an inclination gradient θ is provided.

The range permitted as the angle of the inclination gradient θ will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35. 34A is a side view of the developing frame supporting the driving end of the toner stirring member, and FIG. 34B is a side view of the developing frame supporting the driving end of the toner stirring member. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a supporting form between a non-driving side end of the toner stirring member and a blind hole.

In the developing frame 12, a toner stirring gear insertion hole 9m1 for inserting a toner stirring gear 9m attached to the side plate 12A (FIG. 33 (b) and FIG. 34 (a)).
34) and the blind hole 12B1 (see FIG. 33 (c) and FIG. 34 (b)) that supports the non-driving side end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e. It can be formed in each of the X direction and the Y direction of the XY coordinate system described in (b) with a size of ± 0.05 mm or less. That is, the relative position between the toner stirring gear insertion hole 9m1 and the blind hole 12B1 is a maximum.

[0162]

(Equation 1) Causes a deviation. Similarly, both end portions 9e1 and 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e can be formed with a positional accuracy (processing accuracy) of 0.14 mm at the maximum.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33 (a), the toner stirring member 9e and the toner stirring gear 9m are connected to the developing frame 12
In the state where the toner agitating member 9e fits into the blind hole 12B1 and the non-driving side end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e, a maximum displacement of 0.28 mm occurs (two points indicated by (a) in FIG. 35). The chain line indicates the non-driving side end 9e of the toner stirring member 9e.
2 shows the center line when the blind hole 12B1 is at the same position as the blind hole 12B1. ).

Here, assuming that the length of the toner stirring member 9e is 221 mm and the depth of the blind hole 12B1 is 5 mm in order to correspond to the paper width of A4 size recording paper (recording medium), the toner stirring member 9e As shown in FIG. 35, the maximum inclination gradient θ required to support the non-drive end 9e2 in line contact with the inner peripheral surface of the blind hole 12B1 is 2.86 ° ８６3.
° is required.

On the other hand, in order to transport the toner to the developing roller 9c without leaving the toner as much as possible, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the toner stirring member 9e and the developing frame 12 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the above-mentioned value of 3 °, which is the upper limit angle of the inclination gradient θ, is not only necessary due to tolerance, but also
It is a preferable value to provide a gradient greater than this in order to avoid interference between the toner stirring member 9e and the developing frame 12.

If the value of the minimum lower limit angle in the inclination gradient θ is 1 °, which is the draft required for punching the molding die, the bending of the crank portions 9e11 and 9e21 during the processing of the toner stirring member 9e. Even if the angle varies,
Alternatively, even if the crank portions 9e11 and 9e21 swing due to the deflection of the toner stirring member 9e during stirring,
The inner peripheral surface of the blind hole 12b1 and the outer peripheral surface of the non-driving side end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e can be kept from sliding in line contact.

As described above, the angle of the inclination gradient θ is 1 ° to 3 °.
The non-drive-side end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e supported by the blind hole 12B1 set in the range shown in FIG. 33A is rotated by the rotation of the toner stirring member 9e by the stirring gear 9m.
In the longitudinal direction of the toner agitating member 9e shown in FIG.
Since the toner T slides in the blind hole 12B1, there is no danger of applying heat or pressure to the toner T entering the blind hole 12B1.
A toner discharging operation in which the toner in 2B1 is discharged from the opening of the bag hole 12B1 can also be expected. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the toner from rubbing between the outer peripheral surface of the non-drive end 9e2 and the inner peripheral surface of the blind hole 12B1 due to the rotation of the toner stirring member 9e, thereby preventing the generation of toner coarse particles. it can.

For this reason, even if the low-melting-point toner enters between the toner stirring member 9e and the bag hole 12B1 supporting the toner stirring member 9e, the non-driving side end portion 9e2 is maintained during the stirring of the toner stirring member 9e.
Does not apply heat or pressure to the low melting point toner, so that the toner coarse particles accumulate between the developing roller 9c of the developing means 9 and the developing blade 9d. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a situation in which a gap is generated, so that the cause of the occurrence of white spots in the image transferred to the recording medium 2 can be eliminated, and the image quality can always be maintained at high quality.

The value of the allowable range of the inclination gradient θ in the blind hole 12B1 depends on the diameter and length of the toner stirring member 9e or the toner stirring member 9e required for toner stirring.
Of the toner agitating member 9e and the blind hole 12B1 of the developing frame 12 for loosely fitting and supporting the end 9e2. Is a linear or point contact in the longitudinal direction of the toner stirring member 9e, and the non-driving end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e slides in the blind hole 12B1 of the developing frame body 12. It is not limited.

XV. Supporting Structure of Toner Feeding Member 9b for Preventing Generation of Toner Coarse Grains The supporting structure for preventing generation of toner coarse particles having the above-described structure is only the toner stirring member 9e for stirring toner in the developing chamber of the developing frame 12. Instead of stirring the toner in the toner container 11A of the toner frame 11, the developing frame 1
Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to the toner feeding member 9b which sends the toner to the second developing chamber.

That is, the round hole 11r of the toner frame 11 supporting the one journal 9b1, which is the non-driving side end of the toner feeding member 9b shown in FIG. 20, has the same inclination gradient θ as that of the above-described blind hole 12B1. It can be formed in a blind hole as a part. Accordingly, the journal 9b1 slides in the round hole 11r in the same manner as the non-drive end 9e2 of the toner stirring member 9e during rotation of the toner feeding member 9b, so that the toner that has entered the round hole 11r. And the toner in the round hole 11r is removed.
And the toner can be prevented from rubbing between the outer peripheral surface of the journal 9b1 and the inner peripheral surface of the round hole 11r due to the rotation of the toner feeding member 9b, and the generation of coarse toner particles can be prevented. Can be prevented.

Therefore, even if the low melting point toner enters between the toner feeding member 9b and the round hole 11r supporting the toner, the journal 9b1 slides in the round hole 11r while the toner feeding member 9b is being stirred. No heat or pressure is applied to the low melting point toner, and therefore, it is possible to eliminate a situation in which the toner coarse particles accumulate between the developing roller 9c and the developing blade 9d of the developing means 9 to form a gap, and thus recording is performed. The cause of the occurrence of white spots in the image transferred to the medium 2 can be eliminated, and the image quality can always be maintained at a high level.

The value of the allowable range of the inclination gradient θ in the round hole 11r is the same as the value of the allowable range of the inclination gradient θ in the blind hole 12B1.
Of the toner feed member 9b and the distance (interval) between the toner feed member 9b and the toner frame 11 required for toner agitation, and as a result, the outer circumference of the journal 9b1 of the toner feed member 9b. The surface and the inner peripheral surface of the round hole 11r of the toner frame 11 that loosely fits and supports the line contact or point contact in the longitudinal direction of the toner feeding member 9b,
The journal 9b1 of the toner feeding member 9b is the toner frame 1
There is no particular limitation as long as the value is such that it is displaced by sliding in the one round hole 11r.

Since the electrophotographic image forming apparatus A according to the present embodiment mounts the process cartridge B having the above-described support structure of the toner stirring member 9e or the support structure of the toner feeding member 9b, In addition, it is possible to eliminate white spots or the like that occur in the transferred image of the recording medium 2 due to the coarse particles of the toner, and to obtain a good image.

XVI. Other Embodiments The case where the process cartridge B shown in the above-described embodiment forms a single-color image is exemplified. However, the process cartridge according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of developing units, and a plurality of color images (for example, two-color image , 3 color image or full color)
The present invention can also be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms

The electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the photosensitive drum 7 and includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as a photoconductor. Examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and an organic photoconductor (O
PC) and the like. As the shape on which the photoconductor is mounted, for example, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder such as an amyl alloy. It has been worked.

As a developing method, it is possible to use various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down developing method, and a cloud developing method.

In the above-described embodiment, a so-called contact charging method is used for the structure of the charging means. However, as another structure, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a conventionally used tungsten wire. It is a matter of course that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

The charging means may be a blade (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, or the like, in addition to the roller type.

As a method of cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like.

As the toner seal, besides the above-mentioned cover film 51 and the tear tape 52, there is an easy peel method in which one sheet is folded and used in the same manner. Of course, a process cartridge using such a toner seal can be used. The present invention also applies to this.

The above-described process cartridge has, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means, and at least one of the processing means. Therefore, as an aspect of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a charging unit are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. . An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. There is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit which are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

That is, the above-described process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit or a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. is there. In addition, at least one of the charging unit and the cleaning unit, the developing unit and the electrophotographic photoreceptor are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member may be integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, etc. Of course, it is also possible to use it for the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0185]

[Embodiments] These are described together with the embodiments.

[0186]

As described above, according to the process cartridge of the present invention, the hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end of the stirring member is at least 1 ° with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member. The stirrer is formed in a hole having a gradient, and the end of the stirring member is slid in the hole while being in line contact with the hole, so that the developer is melted and solidified by friction heat or the like in the hole. It is possible to prevent the generation of generated toner coarse particles.

Further, according to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the above process cartridge is detachably mounted, it is possible to eliminate white spots or the like generated in a transferred image on a recording medium due to coarse toner particles. And a good image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the process cartridge.

4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the upper right side.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the process cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the process cartridge shown in FIG.

7 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the upper left side.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing the lower left side of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a mounting portion of a process cartridge of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a mounting portion of a process cartridge of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a driving device thereof.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cleaning unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a developing unit.

FIG. 14 is a partially exploded perspective view of the developing unit.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the back of the developing holder.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a side plate of the developing frame and a toner frame.

17 is a side view of the developing holder shown in FIG. 15 viewed from the inside to the outside.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a developing roller bearing box.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a developing frame.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a toner frame.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a toner frame.

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner seal portion of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a support device for the charging roller unit.

FIG. 24 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a drive system of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a coupling provided on a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a coupling provided on a process cartridge.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a coupling provided on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body and a coupling provided on a process cartridge.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an opening / closing member and a coupling unit of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 28 is a front view illustrating a configuration around a coupling concave axis when the process cartridge of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body is driven.

FIG. 29 is a front view illustrating a configuration around a coupling concave axis when the process cartridge of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body is attached / detached.

FIG. 30 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electrical contact relationship when a process cartridge is attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 31 is a development view showing a relation of generated thrust in the process cartridge.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of automatic coupling alignment when a process cartridge is driven.

33A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a support structure of a toner stirring member, and FIG. 33B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a support structure of a driving side end of the toner stirring member (A portion illustrated in FIG. 33A). , (C)
Is a supporting structure at the non-driving side end of the toner stirring member (FIG. 33)
FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion B shown in FIG.

34A is a side view of a developing frame supporting a driving end of the toner stirring member, and FIG. 34B is a side view of a developing frame supporting the driving end of the toner stirring member.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of a supporting form of the non-driving side end of the toner stirring member and the blind hole of the developing frame.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing an opening of a toner frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Conveying Means 7 Electrophotographic Photoreceptor (Photosensitive Drum) 9 Developing Means 9b Toner Feeding Member (Stirring Member) 9b1 Journal (End of Stirring Member) 9e Toner Stirring Member (Stirring Member) 9e1 Non-Drive Unit Side End (Stirring) 11) Toner frame (cartridge frame) 11r Round hole (hole) 12 Developing frame (cartridge frame) 12B1 Bag hole (hole) 16 Guide (mounting means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Minoru Sato, Inventor 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Machiro 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; And a cartridge frame supporting the means, wherein the developing means has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame has a rotatable stirring member. A hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end is provided, and the hole of the cartridge frame is formed as a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member. Process cartridge. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a gradient of a hole of the cartridge frame with respect to a peripheral surface of an end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °. 3. A process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; And a cartridge frame supporting the unit, wherein the developing unit has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame includes the stirring member. A developing frame for supporting the developing frame, the developing frame having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the stirring member, and a hole of the developing frame surrounding a periphery of the end of the stirring member. A process cartridge formed in a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to a surface. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the inclination of the hole of the developing frame with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °. 5. A process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; And a cartridge frame supporting the unit, wherein the developing unit has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the cartridge frame, and the cartridge frame includes the stirring member. The toner frame has a hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end of the stirring member, and the hole of the toner frame is formed around the end of the stirring member. A process cartridge formed in a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to a surface. 6. The process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the inclination of the hole of the toner frame with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member is 1 ° to 3 °. 7. The process cartridge further comprises at least one of a charging unit and a cleaning unit, a pre-developing unit, and the electrophotographic photoreceptor integrally formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the process cartridge is detachable from the process cartridge. 8. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. The cartridge frame has a rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer stored in the frame, the cartridge frame has a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the stirring member, and the cartridge frame has a hole. Mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge in which the hole is formed as a hole having a gradient of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 9. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. The cartridge frame has a developing frame for supporting the stirring member, the rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the frame, and the developing frame is the stirring member. A process cartridge having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting the end of the developing frame, wherein the hole of the developing frame is formed as a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member, Mounting means for removably mounting; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 10. The process cartridge is detachable,
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer, and a cartridge frame supporting the developing unit, wherein the developing unit is a cartridge. A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer housed in the frame; the cartridge frame having a toner frame for supporting the stirring member; and the toner frame being the stirring member. A process cartridge having a hole for loosely fitting and supporting an end of the toner frame, wherein the hole of the toner frame is formed as a hole having a slope of 1 ° or more with respect to the peripheral surface of the end of the stirring member. Mounting means for removably mounting; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.