1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disassembling tool for disassembling a process cartridge detachably attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer or a facsimile apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, there is adopted a process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally made into a cartridge which is made detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be done by a user himself without resort to a serviceman and therefore, the usability of the image forming apparatus is markedly improved.
As the construction of such a process cartridge, there is one in which two frame bodies are coupled together. For example, a photosensitive member frame body for supporting a photosensitive drum, a charging device and a cleaning device, and a developing device frame body comprising a developing frame body for supporting developing means and a toner frame body having a toner chamber, the developing frame body and the toner frame body being joined together, are coupled together for rotation about a fulcrum. The two frame bodies are biased about the aforementioned fulcrum by a resilient member such as a spring to thereby determine the relative position of the photosensitive drum and the developing means. The functional merits of adopting the above-described construction are that the pressure force of a developing roller against the photosensitive drum can be made proper, and that the interval between the surface of the photosensitive drum and the surface of the developing roller can be maintained constant. Further, the use of the aforedescribed two frame bodies leads to many merits such as the facilitation of the molding of the frame bodies and the facilitation of assembly.
In the above-described conventional process cartridge, an engagement pin bringing a developing device unit and a photosensitive member unit into engagement with each other is required to have sufficient withstanding pull-out strength to ensure the engagement between the two units. Also, the engagement pin is installed so as to be fully embedded in a holding portion so that the user may not pull out the engagement pin by mistake.
To disassemble the process cartridge, the engagement pin coupling the two units together is pulled out, and the process cartridge is disassembled into the developing device unit and the photosensitive member unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool which can easily disassemble a process cartridge having a first frame and a second frame.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool which can simply detach a coupling member rotatably coupling a first frame and a second frame together.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool which can be easily positioned relative to a process cartridge, and can reliably detach a coupling member rotatably coupling a first frame and a second frame together.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool which can simply push a coupling member out of a process cartridge.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool for pushing a coupling member out of a process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body and having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first frame, a second frame and the coupling member for rotatably coupling the first frame and the second frame together, the disassembling tool having a base body, an engagement portion provided on the base body and adapted to be engaged with the process cartridge to thereby position the process cartridge when the disassembling tool is mounted on the process cartridge, a pushing-out portion provided for movement relative to the base body for pushing out the coupling member, and a grip portion adapted to be gripped when the pushing-out portion is to be moved, and connected to the pushing-out portion, the engagement portion being provided at a location opposed to the pushing-out portion in a movement direction in which the pushing portion is moved.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling tool for pushing a first and a second coupling member out of a process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body, the process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first frame, a second frame, the first coupling member provided on one end side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the lengthwise direction thereof for rotatably coupling the first frame and the second frame together, and the second coupling member provided on the other end side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the lengthwise direction thereof for rotatably coupling the first frame and the second frame together, the aforedescribed coupling members are to be pushed, the disassembling tool having a first base body, a first engagement portion provided on the first base body and adapted to be engaged with the process cartridge to thereby position the process cartridge when the disassembling tool is mounted on the process cartridge, a first pushing-out portion provided for movement relative to the first base body for pushing out the first coupling member, a second base body, a second engagement portion provided on the second base body and adapted to be engaged with the process cartridge to thereby position the process cartridge when the disassembling tool is mounted on the process cartridge, and a second pushing-out portion provided for movement relative to the second base body for pushing out the second coupling member, the first engagement portion being provided at a location opposed to the first pushing-out portion in a movement direction in which the first pushing-out portion is moved, and the second engagement portion being provided at a location opposed to the second pushing-out portion in a movement direction in which the second pushing-out portion is moved.
Some embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described.
In
Also, in a developing device unit A, there are disposed a toner container 21 as process means containing a toner therein, a developing roller 20 as process means for supplying the toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 to thereby form a visible image, and a developing blade 22 as process means for imparting triboelectrification charges to the toner to thereby form a toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 20.
Now, in
Here, the developing means feeds the toner in the toner container 21 to the developing roller 20 by the rotation of a toner feeding member 23. The developing roller 20 containing a stationary magnet therein is then rotated. Then, a toner layer having triboelectrification charges imparted thereto by the developing blade 22 is formed on the surface of the developing roller 20, and the toner is supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 10. The toner is shifted to the photosensitive drum 10 in conformity with the aforementioned electrostatic latent image to thereby form a toner image. Here, the developing blade 22 prescribes the amount of toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 20 and also imparts triboelectrification charges thereto. Also, a toner agitating member 24 for circulating the toner in a developing chamber is rotatably mounted near the developing roller 20.
A voltage opposite in polarity to the aforementioned toner image is applied to a transferring roller 3 provided in an image forming apparatus main body to thereby transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 to a recording medium 4. Thereafter, any residual toner on the photosensitive drum 10 is removed by the cleaning means 14. The cleaning means 14 scrapes off the toner residual on the photosensitive drum 10 by an elastic cleaning blade 14a provided in abutting relationship with the photosensitive drum 10 and collects it into the waste toner container 12.
Also, as shown in
The developing device unit A and the photosensitive member unit B are pivotally coupled together by a coupling pin 50 having a circular cross section to thereby constitute the cartridge P. That is, as shown in
A mounting portion for the coupling pin 50 will now be described in detail. The arm portions 19 of the developing device unit A are inserted into the concave portions 33 between the inner side plate B1 and the outer side plate B2 of the photosensitive member unit B. Positioning is effected so that the outer supporting hole 31a, the inner supporting hole 31b and the pivot apertures 41 may be disposed substantially coaxially with one another. Thereafter, the coupling pin 50 is forced in from the outside of the outer side plate B2 of the photosensitive member unit B. The outer diameter portion of the coupling pin 50, the outer supporting hole 31a and the inner supporting hole 31b are in a tight fit relationship with one another, and the outer diameter portion of the coupling pin 50 and the pivot apertures 41 are in a loose fit relationship with each other. Consequently, after the coupling pin 50 has been forced in, the developing device unit A is supported for pivotal movement about the coupling pin 50, while on the other hand, the coupling pin 50 is restrained in the photosensitive member unit B with strength to withstand a predetermined or greater pull-out load. An aperture portion 32 of a bag aperture shape is provided around the inner supporting hole 31b to enhance the holding force of the coupling pin 50 and prevent the slipping-out of the pin and the fall of the shavings of the frame body during the insertion thereof. The coupling pin 50 has its rear end portion inserted thereafter to the position of the bag hole bottom 32b of the aperture portion 32. Also, the coupling pin 50 may be such a pin having a level difference in the diametral direction thereof as shown in
The coupling of the developing device unit A and the photosensitive member unit B on the lengthwisely opposite side is done in a similar manner.
First Disassembling Tool
A first disassembling tool 60 shown in
A pushing-out portion 63 is fixed to two connecting bars 66 parallel to each other. Further, the connecting bars 66 extend through the first plate 64 and are fixed to a second plate 67 at fixing portions 67a and 67b. The fixing may be effected by forming holes in the second plate 67 and fitting the connecting bars into the holes, or may be effected by the use of screws.
As described above, the connecting bars 66 extend through the first plate 64 and are fixed to the pushing-out portion 63 and the second plate 67 and therefore, the first plate 64 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow C between the second plate 67 and the pushing-out portion 63. Therefore, the pushing-out portion 63 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow D relative to the first positioning portion 61 and the second positioning portion 62 provided on the first plate 64.
Also, the first positioning portion 61 is of a concave shape so as to be positioned on a convex portion 37a provided on one end of the photosensitive drum 10 shown in
While in the foregoing, the positioning of the first positioning portion 61 is done relative to the convex portion 37a of the photosensitive drum 10, it may be done anywhere if the first positioning portion 61 can be fixed to the frame, and may be done relative to a bearing 38, as shown in
While in the foregoing, the first positioning portion is of a concave shape and the second positioning portion is of a convex shape, it is also possible to select a concave shape or a convex shape in conformity with the shape of the locations at which they are positioned.
A pushing-out pin 63a is provided on the pushing-out portion 63 in a direction facing the aforedescribed first positioning portion and second positioning portion. The diameter r1 of the tip end of the pushing-out pin 63a is in the relation that r1.ltoreq.r2 relative to the diameter r2 of the coupling pin 50. Also, a pin discharging port 64a for discharging the pushed-out coupling pin 50 out of the cartridge P may be provided at a location on the first plate 64 which faces the pin 50 (this will be described later in detail in a disassembling method which will be described later).
The pushing-out portion 63 is inserted into the interior of the cartridge P from an exposure opening portion 2 provided in the cleaning frame body 13 of the cartridge P shown in
Second Disassembling Tool
The first disassembling tool 60 is a tool for pushing out the coupling pin 50 on the convex portion 37a side (
As shown in
A first positioning portion 71 of the second disassembling tool 70 is of a concave shape so as to be positioned on the cylindrical guide 13aL. Also, a second positioning portion 72 is engaged with and positioned by a slot 13c (see
While in the foregoing, the positioning of the first positioning portion 71 is done relative to the cylindrical guide 13aL, the first positioning portion 71 may be positioned anywhere if it can be fixed to the frame, and the positioning thereof may be done by screws 29a, as shown in
While in the foregoing, the first positioning portion is of a concave shape and the second positioning portion is of a convex shape, it is also possible to select a concave shape or a convex shape in conformity with the shape of the locations at which they are positioned.
A description will now be provided of a method of disassembling the cartridge P by the use of the above-described first disassembling tool 60 and second disassembling tool 70.
Disassembling Method
When the cartridge P is to be disassembled, use is first made of the first disassembling tool 60 (
The pushing-out portion 63 is inserted into the interior of the cartridge through the exposure opening portion 2 by rotating the tool 60 (
Also, when as shown in
Also, in the above-described embodiment, the pin discharging port 64a is provided to take out the coupling pin 50 when the coupling pin 50 is pushed out by the pushing-out portion 63. However, if as shown in
Subsequently, the coupling pin 50 in the lengthwisely opposite direction is likewise taken out by the use of the second disassembling tool 70 (
The pushing-out portion 73 is inserted through the exposure opening portion 2 while the tool is rotated (
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the disassembling tool shown in the fourth embodiment, it is also possible to adopt the construction shown in the second embodiment. That is, as shown in
In the disassembling tool shown in the fifth embodiment, it is also possible to adopt the construction shown in the third embodiment. That is, as shown in
Third Disassembling Tool
As described above, the connecting bars 86 extend through the first plate 84 and are fixed to the first pushing-out portion 83 and the second plate 87. Consequently, the first plate 84 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow M between the second plate 87 and the first pushing-out portion 83. Therefore, the first pushing-out portion 83 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow N relative to the first positioning portion 81 and the second positioning portion 82 provided on the first plate 84.
Also, the connecting bars [[88]] extend through the second plate 87 and are fixed to the second pushing-out portion 93 and the first plate 84. Consequently, the second plate 87 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow O between the first plate 84 and the second pushing-out portion 93. Therefore, the second pushing-out portion 93 becomes slidable in the direction of arrow P relative to the first positioning portion [[91]] and the second positioning portion 92 provided on the second plate 87.
The first positioning portion 81 is of a concave shape so as to be positioned on the convex portion 37a provided on one end of the photosensitive drum 10 shown in
While in the foregoing, the positioning of the first positioning portion 81 is effected relative to the convex portion 37a of the photosensitive drum 10, it may be done anywhere if the first positioning portion 81 can be fixed to the frame, and as shown in
A pushing-out pin 83a is provided on the first pushing-out portion 83 in a direction facing the aforedescribed first positioning portion and second positioning portion, and the diameter r1 of the tip end thereof is in the relation that r1≦r2 relative to the diameter r2 of the coupling pin 50. Also, a pin discharging port 84a for discharging the pushed-out coupling pin 50 out of the cartridge P may be provided at a location on the first plate 84 which faces the pin 50.
The first positioning portion [[91]] on the second plate 87 is of a concave shape so as to be positioned on the cylindrical guide 13aL shown in
While in the foregoing, the positioning of the first positioning portion [[91]] on the second plate 87 is effected relative to the cylindrical guide 13aL, the positioning may be done anywhere if the first positioning portion [[91]] on the second plate 87 can be fixed, and may be effected by the screws 29a, as shown in
While in the foregoing, the first positioning portion is of a concave shape and the second positioning portion is of a convex shape, it is also possible to select a concave shape or a convex shape in conformity with the shapes of the locations at which they are positioned. It is also possible for the third disassembling tool shown above to adopt the constructions shown in the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment. That is, the connecting bars can be provided with level difference portions, and an interval into which fingers can be put can be provided between the plates. Also, biasing means can be provided on the small-diametered portions of the connecting bars, whereby after the coupling pin has been pulled out, the plate can be returned to the level difference portions by the biasing means to thereby always maintain a prescribed minimum interval.
A description will now be provided of a method of disassembling the cartridge P by the use of the above-described third disassembling tool 80.
Disassembling Method
This disassembling method is carried out in a manner similar to the disassembling methods using the aforedescribed first disassembling tool 60 and second disassembling tool 70. The first pushing-out portion 83 is inserted into the interior of the cartridge through the exposure opening portion 2 provided in the cleaning frame body 13 by rotating the tool. Thereafter, the first positioning portion 81 and the second positioning portion 82 are positioned by the convex portion 37a provided on one end of the photosensitive drum 10 being fitted into the slot 13b formed in the cleaning frame body 13. Thereafter, the second plate 87 is slid, whereby the pushing-out portion 83 destroys the bag hole bottom 32b provided in the cleaning frame body 13. The coupling pin 50 is pushed out of the cartridge P through the pin discharging port 84a provided in the first plate 84. Subsequently, the second pushing-out portion 93 is inserted into the interior of the cartridge through the exposure opening portion 2 in the lengthwisely opposite side of the cartridge while the tool is rotated.
Thereafter, the first positioning portion [[91]] on the second plate 87 and the second positioning portion 92 are positioned by the cylindrical guide 13aL provided on the other end of the photosensitive drum 10 being fitted into the slot 13c formed in the cleaning frame body 13. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the coupling pin 50 is pushed out of the cartridge P. Also, while in the above-described embodiments, the pin discharging ports 84a and 87a are provided, the pin discharging ports 84a and 87a need not be provided if as shown in
As has been described above, according to the present invention, the disassembling tool can be easily positioned relative to the process cartridge, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling a first frame and a second frame together can be reliably removed, and a process cartridge having the first frame and the second frame can be disassembled easily.
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2002-260871 | Sep 2002 | JP | national |
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