Patent Application
20120039624
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material (medium) in a state in which a process cartridge and a developing cartridge are detachably mounted. Further, the present invention relates to the process cartridge used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the developing cartridge used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus employs an electrophotographic photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member through an electrophotographic image forming process and forms an image on the recording material. For example, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus may include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, and an electrophotographic word processor. It is also possible to use a monochromatic or full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus used as an output device such as a multi-function device having functions of the above-described machines or a work station. The recording material is subjected to image formation by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and may include a sheet, an OHP sheet, and the like. Incidentally, the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are to be detachably mounted in a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, thus contributing to an image forming process for forming the image on the recording material. Here, the process cartridge is prepared by integrally assembling an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and, as a process means, a charging means and/or a cleaning means into a cartridge, which is detachably mounted in the apparatus main assembly. The process cartridge and the developing cartridge are mountable to and demountable from the apparatus main assembly by a user himself (herself) of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, maintenance of the apparatus main assembly can be easily performed. The process means acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Further, the developing cartridge includes a developing roller and accommodates a developer (toner) used for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by the developing roller, and is to be detachably mounted in the main assembly.
In recent years, it has been known a cartridge-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus with a low running cost and easy maintenance. In the image forming apparatus, exchange of consumables such as the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is enabled to reduce the running cost. Such a technique for satisfying that the exchange of the consumables such as the photosensitive member or the toner is enabled to reduce the running cost has been described (Japanese Patent No. 3592522). In this technique, in a state in which a photosensitive member unit (image bearing member unit) including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit accommodating the toner are mounted in a holder member, the holder member can be pulled out from a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 3592522, when the image bearing member unit is demounted from a pull-out member, a positioning supporting shaft is required to be demounted. Further, when a developing device is demounted from the pull-out member, a knob is required to be demounted from a central shaft of the developing device. Here, the positioning supporting member is inserted into a hole provided in a front side plate of the pull-out member, a hole provided in a side plate of the unit holder, and a center hole formed in a flange member on the front side of the image bearing member. Further, the knob is rotatably supported by the front side plate of the pull-out member through a bearing and is detachably mounted on a central shaft end portion on the more front side than the front side plate. Therefore, when the image bearing member unit and the developing device are demounted from the pull-out member, the above-described positioning supporting shaft and knob are required to be demounted. As a result, it is considered that it takes much time.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus improved in demounting operativity for demounting a process cartridge and a developing cartridge from a cartridge supporting member. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide the process cartridge and the developing cartridge for use in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for achieving the above principal object.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus from which each of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge can be independently and separately demounted when the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are demounted from the cartridge supporting member and from which the order of the demounting is not limited. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide the process cartridge and the developing cartridge for used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for achieving the above another object.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus from which each of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge can be independently and separately demounted when the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are demounted from the cartridge supporting member and which enables the demounting even when either of these cartridges is demounted first. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide the process cartridge and the developing cartridge for used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for achieving the above further object.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus enabling demounting of a process cartridge and a developing cartridge from a cartridge supporting member independently and separately by a user himself (herself). Further, an object of the present invention is to provide the process cartridge and the developing cartridge for use in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for achieving the above still further object.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
a process cartridge, including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
a developing cartridge, including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer and including a developer accommodating portion, for being detachably mountable to the main assembly; and
a cartridge supporting member movable, while supporting at least a pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge, between an inside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located inside the main assembly and in which the pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge is located at an image forming position and an outside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located outside the main assembly and in which the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are mountable and demountable,
wherein the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are independently demountable upward relative to the cartridge supporting member when the cartridge supporting member is located at the outside position, and wherein the apparatus further comprises positioning means for positioning the process cartridge and the developing cartridge in the main assembly when the cartridge supporting member is located at the inside position.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a) is a perspective view of the outer appearance of the image forming apparatus in a state in which a front door is opened, and
a) is a perspective view of the outer appearance of the image forming apparatus in a state in which a tray is pulled out, and
a), 5(b) and 5(c) are schematic views for illustrating an interrelation state between opening/closing of the front door and the tray holding member.
a) is an enlarged view of a guide hole portion for guiding movement of the tray holding member, and
a) is a perspective view of an outer appearance of the drum cartridge, and
a) is a perspective view of an outer appearance of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge disposed in combination, and
a) and 12(b) are perspective views for illustrating an interface portion, to be located in the neighborhood of the cartridges, to be released in interrelation with movement of the tray holding member.
a) and 14(b) are perspective views specifically showing an urged state and an urge-released state of the developing cartridge, respectively.
a) and 15(b) are side perspective views showing a driving mechanism for switching between the urged state and the urge-released state of the developing cartridge.
a) is a bottom perspective view showing the driving mechanism for switching between the urged state and the urge-released state of the developing cartridge, and
a) is a perspective view showing the urged state of the developing cartridge, and
a) is a sectional view showing a state in which the developing roller contacts the drum by urging the developing cartridge, and
a) and 19(b) are schematic views for illustrating that the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge can be mounted in the tray even when either one of these cartridges is mounted first, and
As electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment, a full-color laser printer will be described by way of examples. In the following description, a front side (front surface side) of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 means the side on which a door (an opening/closing member) 31 is provided. A rear side of the image forming apparatus 100 is the side opposite from the front side. A front-rear direction includes a frontward direction toward front as seen from the rear side of the image forming apparatus 100, and a rearward direction is opposite from the frontward direction. The left and right sides mean the left and right sides as seen from the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. A left-right direction includes a leftward direction toward left as seen from the front side, and a rightward direction is opposite from the leftward direction. An apparatus main assembly 100A is a portion of an image forming apparatus except a drum cartridge (process cartridge) DR and a developing cartridge DV.
The drum cartridge (process cartridge) DR includes the rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 and at least one process means, except a developing means, acting on the drum 1. In this embodiment, the drum cartridge DR Includes, as the process means, a charging roller (charging means) 2 and a cleaning blade 3a (cleaning means 3). Further, the developing cartridge DV includes a developing roller (developing means) for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 1 with a developer and a developer accommodating container (developer accommodating portion) for accommodating the developer. The cartridges DR and DV are detachably mounted in the main assembly 100A by a user himself (herself). Further, relative to the apparatus 100, the right side is a driving side and the left side in a non-driving side.
In the apparatus main assembly 100A, for drum cartridges DR and four developing cartridges DV are juxtaposed from the rear side to the front side. That is, first to fourth drum cartridges DR (process cartridges) (DRY, DRM, DRC and DRK) and first to fourth developing cartridges DV (DVY, DVM, DVC and DVK) are substantially horizontally arranged in this order with respect to a rear-to-front direction. In other words, the apparatus 100 in this embodiment is of an in-line type or tandem type. A pair of the first drum cartridge DRY and the first developing cartridge DVY constitutes a yellow image forming portion. A pair of the second drum cartridge DRM and the second developing cartridge constitutes a magenta image forming portion. A pair of the third drum carriage DRC and the third developing cartridge DVC constitutes a cyan image forming portion. A pair of the fourth drum cartridge DRK and the fourth developing cartridge DVK constitutes a black image forming portion.
The respective cartridges DR have the same constitution. In this embodiment, each cartridge DR includes a rotatable (electrophotographic photosensitive) drum 1. The cartridge DR also includes the charging roller 2 (charging means) and the cleaning blade 3a (cleaning means 3) as the process means acting on the drum 1. The drum 1, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning blade 3a are integrally supported by a drum cartridge frame 5. The charging roller 2 contacts and electrically charges the drum 1. The blade 3a removes toner remaining on the drum 1. The drum cartridges DR may include at least either one of the charging roller 3 and the cleaning blade 3a. Each cartridge DV includes a developing roller 4a for supplying powdery toner to the drum 1 of an associated cartridge DR and includes a developer accommodating container (developer accommodating portion) 4 accommodating the powdery toner. The respective cartridges DV have the same constitution except that the colors of powdery developers (toners) accommodated in containers 3 are different from each other.
The container 4 of the first cartridge DVY stores yellow (Y) toner. On the surface of the drum 1 in the first cartridge DRY, a toner (developer) image of yellow (Y) is formed. The container 4 of the second cartridge DVM stores magenta (M) toner. On the surface of the drum 1 in the second cartridge DRM, a toner image of magenta (M) is formed. The container 4 of the third cartridge DVC stores cyan (C) toner. On the surface of the drum 1 in the third cartridge DRC, a toner image of cyan (C) is formed. The developing device 3 of the fourth cartridge DVK stores black (K) toner. On the surface of the drum 1 in the fourth cartridge DRK, a toner image of black (K) is formed.
In the area above the first to fourth cartridges DR and the first to fourth cartridges DV which have been mounted in the main assembly 100A, a laser scanner unit (an image exposure means) 11 is disposed. This scanner unit 11 outputs a beam of laser light L modulated correspondingly to image (picture) information for each color input from the host device 300 into the circuit portion 200. Through an exposure opening 6 provided at an upper surface of a developing cartridge frame 401 (
Below the first to fourth cartridge DR and the first to fourth cartridge DV which have been mounted in the main assembly 100A, an intermediary transfer belt unit 12 is provided. This belt unit 12 includes an endless belt (intermediary transfer member) 13 formed of a dielectric material and having flexibility. The belt unit 12 further includes a driving roller 14, a turn roller 15 and a tension roller 16 around which the belt 13 is stretched and circulatively moved. The driving roller 14 and tension roller 16 are disposed inside and on the rear side of the main assembly 100A, whereas the turn roller 15 is disposed inside and on the front side of the main assembly 100A. A lower surface of each drum 1 contacts an upper surface of the belt 13. Inside the belt 13, four primary transfer rollers 17 are disposed so that each transfer roller 17 opposes the drum 1 through the belt 13. The driving roller 14 is disposed opposite to a secondary transfer roller 22 through the belt 13.
Below the belt unit 12, a feeding unit 18 is disposed, which includes a cassette (tray) 19, a feeding roller 20, a separation roller 21, and the like. The cassette 19 is detachably mountable to the apparatus 100 from the front side (front loading). As shown in
Inside and at an upper rear side of the main assembly 100A, a fixing device 23 and a discharging roller pair 24 are provided. Further, an upper surface of the main assembly 100A constitutes a tray 25 which is configured to receive the sheet P after the image formation. The fixing device 23 includes a fixation film assembly 23a and a pressing roller 23b. The discharging roller pair 24 includes a roller 24a and a discharging roller 24b.
An operation for forming a full-color image by the apparatus 100 is as follows (
Consequently, an unfixed full-color toner image based on the four colors of Y, M, C and K is formed on the belt 13.
After the transfer of the toner image onto the belt 13, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the drum 1 is removed by the cleaning blade 3a.
Meanwhile, the roller 20 is driven with predetermined control timing. As a result, one of sheets (recording material) P stacked on the cassette 19 is fed by cooperation of the roller 20 and the separation roller 21. Then, the sheet P is introduced into a nip (secondary transfer nip) between the secondary transfer roller 22 and belt 13. During conveyance of the sheet P in the nip, a secondary transfer bias is applied to a transfer roller 22. As a result, the superposed four color toner images on the belt 13 are collectively transferred onto the sheet P.
The sheet P is separated from the surface of the belt 13 and introduced into the fixing device 23, and is subjected to heat and pressure in a fixation nip of the fixing device 23. As a result, the respective color toner images are fixed on the sheet P. Thereafter, the sheet P is moved out of the fixing device 23, and then, is discharged as a full-color image formation product onto the tray 25 by the roller pair 24.
As each cartridge DV is used for image formation, the developer (toner) stored in the associated container 4 is consumed. Then, when the developer is consumed, the associated cartridge is exchanged. For example, the image forming apparatus is provided with a means (not shown) for detecting an amount of the developer remaining in each cartridge DV. The detected amount value of the developer is compared, by the control circuit portion 200, with a threshold value preset for issuing a prewarning or warning of the lifetime of the cartridge DV. With respect to the cartridge DV in which the detected amount value of the residual developer is smaller than the threshold value, the prewarning or warning of the lifetime of the cartridge DV is displayed on a display portion (not shown). As a result, the image forming apparatus prompts the user to prepare an exchange cartridge DV or to exchange the cartridge DV. Further, each cartridge DR is increased in the amount of the removed toner (residual toner) accommodated in a removed toner accommodating portion 3 with the use thereof for the image formation. When the amount of the toner accommodated in the accommodating portion 3 exceeds an accommodatable amount, the cartridge DR is exchanged. For this purpose, e.g., a means (not shown) for detecting the accommodated amount of the removed toner in each cartridge DR is provided. The detected amount value is compared, in the control circuit portion, with a threshold value preset for providing the prewarning or warning of the lifetime of the cartridge DR. With respect to the cartridge DR in which the detected amount value is larger than the threshold value, the prewarning or warning of the lifetime of the cartridge DR is displayed on the display portion (not shown). As a result, the image forming apparatus prompts the user to prepare the exchange cartridge DR or to exchange the cartridge DR.
In this embodiment, the exchange of each of the cartridges DV and DR is made by placing the cartridge DV or DR on a pull-out tray (cartridge supporting member) 35. As a result, the user can exchange the cartridges DV and DR in a front-access manner. In the front-access manner, the cartridge exchange operation can be performed from the front side of the apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 is provided with an opening 30 on its front side. The opening 30 permits passing of the tray 35 supporting the cartridge DV and the cartridge DR therethrough. As a result, the cartridge CV and the cartridge DR can be inserted into and demounted from the main assembly 100A. Further, a door (openable member) 31 movable between a closing position in which the opening 30 is covered and an opening position in which the opening 30 is exposed is provided. In this embodiment, the door 31 can be rotationally moved for opening and closing about a hinge shaft 32, provided at a lower portion of the door 31, relative to the main assembly 100A. That is, the door 31 is rotationally moved upward about the hinge shaft 32, so that the opening 30 is covered
In the state in which the tray 35 is pulled out to the outside position Y (
Further, the cartridge DV is provided, in a state in which the cartridge DR is supported by the tray 35, so that the developing roller 4a is exposed over a full length thereof with respect to its longitudinal direction on a side on which the cartridge DV opposes the cartridge DR. Further, the developing roller 4a is protruded from the cartridge DV toward the cartridge DR in a direction perpendicular to the developing roller 4a (
At the outside position Y, the tray 35 facilitates demounting of all the sets (pairs) of the cartridges DR and DV. As described above, when the exchange of the cartridge with respect to the pulled-out tray 35 is completed, the user sufficiently pushes the tray 35 into the apparatus main assembly 100A along the supporting members 34L and 34R until the tray 35 is received by the stopper portion (not shown). An arrow b shown in
As described above, the tray 35 is provided movably in a direction intersecting the shaft direction of the drum 1 of the cartridge DR. Further, the tray 35 passes through the opening 30 and can be moved to the outside position Y in which the cartridges DR and DV can be mounted in and demounted from the tray 35 outside the apparatus main assembly 100A. Further, the tray 35 passes through the opening 30 from the outside of the main assembly 100A toward the inside of the main assembly 100A and can be moved to the inside position (latent image forming position or image forming position) X in which the cartridges DR and DV can be located at the position in which the electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 1. The position in which the electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 1 means the image forming position described above. In this embodiment, at the inside position X, the drum 1 contacts the belt 13. Further, the supporting members 34L and 34R move, in interrelation with the opening operation of the door 31, the tray 35 upward from the inside position X before the tray 35 is moved to the outside position Y. On the other hand, in interrelation with the closing operation of the door 31, the supporting members 34L and 34R move the tray 35 toward the inside position X in a downward direction. That is, the supporting members 34L and 34R is movable, in a state in which they support the tray 35, between a first position in which the tray 35 is movable between the outside position (pull-out position) Y and the inside position X and a second position for permitting the positioning of the tray 35 at the inside position X. Further, in interrelation with the closing of the door 31 (an interrelating mechanism will be described later), the supporting members 34L and 34R are moved from the first position to the second position. The inside position X refers to a position in which the tray 35 is located inside the main assembly 100A and the door 31. In other words, the inside position X refers to a position in which the tray 35 is located inside the main assembly 100A while supporting at least one pair of the cartridges DR and DV and in which the pair of cartridges DR and DV is located at the image forming position.
The interrelating means between the door 31 and the supporting members 34L and 34R and the tray movement preventing means will be described.
The hinge portions (shafts) 32 (32L and 32R) of the door 31 are horizontally provided with respect to the left-right direction of the main assembly 100A. These hinge portions 32 are rotatably supported at both end portions thereof between shaft-supporting members (not shown) provided on the main assembly 100A. These shaft-supporting members may also be left and right frames 80L and 80R (
Further, at both end portions of the door 31, connecting arms 37L and 37R are disposed. Hinge portions 120L and 120R (which is not shown) of the arms 37L and 37R are horizontally disposed with respect to the left-right direction of the main assembly 100A. These hinge portions are rotatably supported by shaft-supporting members (not shown) provided on the main assembly 100A, respectively. These shaft-supporting members may also be the left and right frames 80L and 80R. Each of the arms 37L and 37R is provided with shafts 37a and 37b. The shaft 37a of the arm 37L is engaged in a vertically elongated hole 34A provided in the bottom front portion of the supporting member 34L. Further, the shaft 37b of the arm 37L is engaged in a groove 31B provided in the left side surface portion of the door 31. The shaft 37a of the right connecting arm 37R is engaged in a vertically elongated hole 34A provided in the bottom front portion of the tray supporting member 34R. Further, the shaft 37b of the arm 37R is engaged in a groove 31B provided in the right side surface portion of the door 31. Thus, the door 31 and the supporting members 34L and 34R are connected to each other via the arms 37L and 37R, the shafts 37a and 37b, the vertically elongated holes 34A, and the grooves 31B. As a result, when the door 31 is opened and closed, a moving force in the front-rear direction acts on the tray supporting members 34L and 34R.
Incidentally, the hinge portions 120L and 120R of the arms 37L and 37R may also be disposed coaxially with the hinge portions 32L and 32R of the door 31. Further, without providing the arms 37L and 37R, the door 31 and the supporting members 34L and 34R may also be directly connected to each other.
Description will be made with reference to
Each of
Therefore, the supporting members 34L and 34R have such a latitude that the members are movable relative to the left and right frames 80L and 80R within a guide range of the guide holes 36.
a) is an enlarged view of one of the guide holes 36. Each guide hole 36 includes first, second, and third guiding sections 36a, 36b, and 36c. The first guiding section 36a is a horizontal section parallel to the front-rear direction. The second guiding section 36b extends frontward from the front end of the first section 36a, slanting upward. The third guiding section 36c extends horizontally frontward from the front end (top portion) of the second guiding section 36b and can stop and stably hold the pin 34c.
The pins 34c, i.e., the supporting members 34L and 34R are moved by a distance a1, in interrelation with the opening of the door 31, in the horizontal direction along the first guiding section 36a, and then, is moved slantingly upward (in the horizontal direction by a distance a2 and in a vertical direction by a distance b) along the second guiding section 36b. Then, finally, they are moved in the horizontal direction by a distance a3 along the third guiding section 36c.
a) shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently closed against the opening 30 of the apparatus main assembly 100A. In this state, the supporting members 34L and 34R have been moved rearward in the apparatus main assembly 100A via the hinge shafts 32, the connecting arms 37L and 37R, the shafts 37a, and the vertically elongated holes 34b. Further, each pin 34c is located at the rear end of the first guiding section 36a of the guide hole 36. Therefore, the supporting members 34L and 34R are kept at a predetermined lower position (the above-described second position) with respect to the frames 80L and 80R. The tray 35 which is held by the supporting members 34L and 34R is supported at a predetermined lower position (the above-described inside position X).
Each cartridge DR supported by the tray 35 is elastically urged by an urging member 42 main assembly-side process cartridge urging member) at its driving-side upper surface portion with respect to its longitudinal direction. As a result, with respect to each cartridge DR, as described later, lower surface portions (portions to be positioned or first process cartridge-side portions to be positioned) 51 of a driving-side shaft supporting portion 60 and a non-driving-side shaft supporting portion 60 are positioned on stay members (inner side plates) of the main assembly 100A. That is, each cartridge DR is positioned at main assembly-side positioning portions (first main assembly-side process cartridge positioning portions 41Y2, 41M2, 41C2 or 41K2) (
In this state, the lower surface of each drum 1 stably contacts the upper surface of the belt 13. Each cartridge DV is also kept in the positioned state by positioning means (described below). That is, lower surface portions (portions to be positioned) 404 of a driving-side shaft supporting portion 61 and a non-driving-side shaft supporting portion 61 are positioned in the main assembly 100A. That is, each cartridge DR is positioned at main assembly-side positioning portions (first main assembly-side developing cartridge positioning portions 41Y1, 41M1, 41C1 or 41K1) (
In this state, in drive input portions (coupling engaging portions) 53 and 54 of the cartridge DR and the cartridge DV, drive output portions (a drum drive coupling 39 and a development drive coupling 40) of the main assembly 100A are engaged, respectively. On the right side of the tray 35, a downward U-shaped groove 110 is provided. A lower end portion (portion to be prevented from being moved) of the U-shaped groove 110 engages with a pin 111 (a movement preventing member or a stationary member) provided on the frame 80R of the apparatus main assembly 100A to be positioned (movement of the tray is prevented) (
b) shows a state in which the door 31 is partly opened. As the door 31 placed in the closed state as shown in
c) shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently opened. In this state, the supporting members 34L and 34R have finished their slantingly upward movement effected by the second guiding section 36b, so that the pins 34c are located in the horizontal third guiding section 36c. That is, the supporting members 34L and 34R are horizontally moved after the slantingly upward movement. This is because the cartridges DR and DV and the supporting members 34L and 34R can be kept stably at a position with respect to the vertical direction and the supporting members 34L and 34R can be prevented from being moved and returned to the original position during the exchange of the cartridges DR and DV by pulling out of the tray 35 from the supporting members 34L and 34R.
In the state shown in
Therefore, the tray 35 is slidably movable horizontally in the front-rear direction relative to the supporting members 34L and 34R.
The operation in the case where the door 31 placed in the opened state is closed is the reverse of the above-described operation. Here, the above-described groove (portion to be prevented from being moved) 110 and the pin (movement preventing member) 111 constitute a movement preventing means for preventing the tray, at the inside position (mounting) position in the main assembly 100A, from moving in a direction intersecting a direction in which each drum 1 and the belt 13 contact each other. This prevention of the movement of the tray 35 by the movement preventing means (the groove 110 and the pin 111) is released after the tray 35 follows the movement of the supporting members 34L and 34R in the contact direction in which the drum 1 and the belt 13 contact each other.
The supporting members 34L and 34R are guided along the first guiding section 36a to move in the direction intersecting the direction in which the drum 1 and the belt 13 contact each other (first movement). Then, the supporting members 34L and 34R are guided along the section 36b to move in the standing upward direction including two directional components consisting of the direction in which the drum 1 and the belt 13 contact each other and the direction intersecting the contact direction (second movement). Thereafter, the supporting members 34L and 34R move in the direction intersecting the direction in which the drum 1 and the belt 13 contact each other (third movement).
The supporting members 34L and 34R disconnect the driving means for each cartridge DR during the first movement and the tray 35 follows the movement of the supporting members 34L and 34R in the directional component in which the drum 1 and the belt 13 contacts each other, and thereafter the above-described movement preventing means 110 and 111 are disengaged. The operation in the case where the door 31 placed in the opened state is closed is the reverse of the above-described operation.
a) is a perspective view of each drum cartridge DR as seen from the driving side (right side of the cartridge).
The cartridge DR is a box-type assembly extending in the axial direction of the drum 1 as its longitudinal direction. The drum 1 is rotatably supported, in the drum cartridge frame 5, between the shaft supporting portions 60 and 60 provided at inner surfaces of side surface portions 5a and 5b on the driving side and on the non-driving side (left side of the cartridge), respectively (
The charging roller 2 is supported rotatably between shaft supporting portions 61 which are similarly provided (
b) is a perspective view of each cartridge DV as seen from the driving side.
The cartridge DV is a box-type assembly extending in the axial direction of the developing roller 4a parallel to the axial direction of the drum 1 as its longitudinal direction. The developing roller 4a is rotatably supported, in the developing cartridge frame 401, between shaft supporting portions 61 and 61 provided at inner surfaces of side surface portions 401a and 401b on the driving side and on the non-driving side, respectively (
A part of the frame 401 constitutes the developer accommodating container 4 for accommodating the developer. An eave 402 is provided by being extended from a top plate portion of the frame 401 in a widthwise direction. The widthwise direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. At the outer surfaces of the side surface portions 401a and 401b, flat plate-like eaves (developing cartridge-side portions to be supported) 403 extending outward with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge DV are provided. That is, the eave 403 is provided on one end side and the other end side of the developing roller 4a with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4a. The eaves 403 are provided at upper portions of the side surface portions 401a and 401b in a state in which the cartridge DV is supported by the tray 35. Further, the eaves 403 extend in the pull-out direction a of the tray 35 in the state in which the cartridge DV is supported by the tray 35. The eaves (developing cartridge-side portions to be supported) 403 are provided on the cartridge DV in order to permit the support of the cartridge DV by the tray 35.
a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a pair (set) of the cartridge DR and the cartridge DV is mounted in an unshown tray 35. The cartridge Dr and DV have no mutual interference portion with respect to the directions in which they are mounted in and demounted from the tray 35 (directions indicated by arrows c and d in
a), 19(b) and 19(c) are schematic views showing that the drum cartridge DR and the developing cartridge DV can be mounted in and demounted from the tray 35 even when either one of the cartridges DR and DV is mounted or demounted first. Incidentally, in this embodiment, an example in which the holding portions 600 and 601 by which the user holds the cartridges DR and DV are projected upward from the upper surfaces of the cartridges is shown. However, the holding portion is not limited thereto. For example, the holding portion may also be a recessed portion provided on one end side and on the other end side of the upper surface of each of the cartridges DR and DV relative to the widthwise direction of the cartridge (
a) is a perspective view of an outer appearance of the tray 35.
This tray 35 includes a rectangular framework portion 35A consisting of a front frame 35b, a rear frame 35c, a left frame 35d, and a right frame 35e which are connected to each other. The inside of the framework portion 35A is substantially equally partitioned into four areas by three partitioning plates 35f with respect to the front-rear direction of the framework portion 35A. First to fourth small frame portions 35(1) to 35(4) are constituted from the rear frame 35c side to the front frame 35b side in this order. The small frame portions 35(1), 35(2), 35(3) and 35(4) are supporting portions for holding to fourth sets (pairs) of cartridges DRY and DVY, DRM and DVM, DRC and DVC, and DRK and DVK, respectively. The cartridge set DV and DR are supported by the tray 35 in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the pull-out direction a. The cartridge DR is provided with a rotating preventing boss 502 on the side surface 5a on the driving side (
The right frame 35e for the small frame portions 35(1) to 35(4) is provided with four U-shaped grooves (second main assembly-side process cartridge positioning portion) 35h for the small frame portions 35(1) to 35(4), respectively, and the boss 502 of the cartridge DR is configured to be inserted into each of the grooves 35h. That is, the groove 35h is provided, every small frame portion 35 of the tray 35, on the right frame 35e provided on one end side with respect to a direction perpendicular to the pull-out direction a. Each groove 35h prevents the movement of the boss (second process cartridge-side portion to be positioned) 502 of the cartridge DR when the cartridge DR receives from the main assembly 100A a rotational force for rotating the drum 1 in a state in which the tray 35 is located at the inside position X. As a result, each groove (second main assembly-side process cartridge positioning portion) 35h prevents the cartridge DR from being rotated about the lower surface portion (first portion to be positioned) 51. Incidentally, the cartridge DR receives the rotational force, for rotating the drum 1, from the main assembly 100A through the coupling 39 and the coupling engaging portion 53.
Each of the four cartridges sets DR and DV is inserted from above into an associated one of the small frame portions 35(1) to 35(4) of the tray 35. Then, lower surfaces of the eaves 56 provided on the side surface portions 5a and 5b of each cartridge DR and lower surfaces of the eaves 403 provided on the side surface portions 401b and 401c of each cartridge DV are stopped by the upper surfaces of the frames 35d and 35e of the tray 35. That is, the lower surface of the eave 56 provided on the side surface portion 5a is supported by the upper surface of the frame 35e, and the lower surface of the eave 56 provided in the side surface portion 5b is supported by the upper surface of the frame 35d. Further, the lower surface of the eave 403 provided on the side surface portion 401b is supported by the upper surface of the frame 35e, and the lower surface of the eave 403 provided on the side surface portion 401c is supported by the upper surface of the frame 35d. As a result, each cartridge DR and each cartridge DV are accommodated in and supported by the tray 35. At this time, the above-described boss 502 is engaged in the groove 35h (second supporting member-side preventing portion) with accuracy. Although a width of the groove 35h is configured to be somewhat larger than a diameter of the boss (second process cartridge-side portion to be positioned) 502, the engagement between the boss 502 and the groove 35h is performed with accuracy. This state is shown in
As described above, the tray supporting members 34L and 34R are moved forward and upward by a predetermined distance in interrelation with the opening movement of the door 31.
The positioning portion 41 receives the lower surface portions 51 of the driving side shaft supporting portion 60 and non-driving side shaft supporting portion 60 of the cartridge DR and receives the lower surface portions of the driving side shaft supporting portion 61 and non-driving side shaft supporting portion 61 of the cartridge DV. Each lower surface portion 51 has an arcuate configuration provided coaxially with the drum 1, and each lower surface portion 404 has an arcuate configuration provided coaxially with the developing roller 4a. Further, each positioning portion 41 is a recessed portion and positions an associated one of the lower surface portions 51 and 404 at three points. Therefore, the cartridge DR is positioned in the main assembly 100A at its one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end with the drum 1 as the center of the positioning. Further, the cartridge DV is positioned in the main assembly 100A at its one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end with the developing roller 4a as the center of the positioning. Further, in this embodiment, in order to engage and fix (position) the lower surface portions 51 in the positioning portions 41 (41Y2, 41M2, 41C2 and 41K2), first urging members (positioning means) 42 for urging the driving side upper surfaces of the cartridges DR are provided. Further, the lower surface portions 404 are engaged and fixed (positioned) in the positioning portions 41 (first main assembly-side developing cartridge positioning portions 41Y1, 41M1, 41C1 and 41K1). For this purpose, second urging members (positioning means main assembly-side developing cartridge urging members) 410 for urging the driving side upper surfaces (inclined surface portions 401a) of the cartridges DV are provided.
In order to generate an urging force (elastic force), each urging member 42 is provided with an urging spring (first urging member) 43 and each urging member 410 is provided with an urging spring (second urging member or positioning means) 411. Incidentally, the urging members 42, the urging members 410, the urging springs 43 and the urging springs 411 are provided on driving side one longitudinal end side of the cartridges DR and DV but may also be provided on both longitudinal end sides of the cartridges DR and DV. That is, it is also possible to employ such an apparatus constitution that the non-driving side upper surfaces of the respective cartridges DR and the respective cartridges DV are urged. Incidentally, by providing the above members 42, 410, 43 and 411 on the driving side one end side, vibration generated during the transmission of the driving force can be efficiently alleviated. Therefore, the positioning of the cartridges DR and DV relative to the main assembly 100A can be effected with accuracy. Incidentally, the longitudinal direction of the cartridge DR is equal to the longitudinal direction of the drum 1. Further, the longitudinal direction of the cartridge DV is equal to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4a.
The cartridge DVC is provided with an inclined surface portion (second urging portion) 401a which is a part of an upper surface 401b of the frame 401 and is provided on an opposite side from the side where the cartridge DRC paired with the cartridge DVC is disposed (
As described above, the urging member (main assembly-side developing cartridge urging member) 410 urges the positioning portion 41 in the state in which the tray 35 is located at the inside position X. That is, the lower surface portions (first developing cartridge-side portion to be positioned) 404 are urged against the positioning portions 41Y1, 41M1, 41C1 and 41K1 (the above-described vertical component). Further, the urging member 410 applies to the cartridge DV the rotation moment (the horizontal component) by the developing roller 4a urges the drum 1. As described above, When the supporting members 34L and 34R and the tray 35 are lowered obliquely rearward in interrelation with the closing operation of the door 31, the inclined surface portion 401a of the cartridge DV reaches a position in which it is to be urged by the urging member 410. Thus, the urging member 410 urges the inclined surface portion 401a of the cartridge DV. Incidentally, according to this embodiment, the urging member 410 is located at an urging position in which it always urges the inclined surface portion 401a of the cartridge DV. However, the position of the urging member 410 is not limited thereto. The urging member 410 may also be configured, similarly as in the case of the urging member 42, so as to be movable between the urging position and a retracted position. An example for this will be described in
By optimizing the horizontal component of the urging force, the developing roller 4a is urged against the drum 1 with a proper urging force. Further, the lower surface portion of the shaft supporting portion 61 of the cartridge DVC has the concentrically circular shape with respect to the shaft supporting portion 61. That is, the lower surface portion 404 is coaxial with the shaft supporting portion 61 (the developing roller 4a). Therefore, the cartridge DVC is positioned about the developing roller 4a relative to the main assembly 100A. Further, irrespective of the magnitude of the horizontal component of the urging force, the coupling engaging portion 54 is positioned relative to the main assembly 100 with accuracy.
Next, the positioning of the cartridge DV relative to the main assembly 100A will be described. That is, the cartridge DV is urged at the lower surface portion 404 against the positioning portion 41 by the vertical component of the elastic force by which the urging member 410 urges the inclined surface portion 401a. Further, to the cartridge DV, by the horizontal component of the elastic force, the rotation moment is applied on the side toward the cartridge DR (in an arrow g direction in
Also in the case of the other cartridges DVY, DVM and DVK, the same constitution is employed. As described above, the urging member 410, the urging spring 411 and the positioning portion 41 constitute the positioning means for positioning the cartridge DV relative to the main assembly 100A.
a) and 12(b) are enlarged views of the drum driving coupling (drum drive output portion) 39 and the development driving coupling (development drive output portion) 40 which are provided on the main assembly 100A side. In order to simplify the figures, the cartridges DR and DV are not illustrated. The urging member 42 is provided on the main assembly 100A side so as to be rotatably about a supporting shaft 44. In an urged state (a closed state of the door 31) shown in
Further, the coupling 39 is disengaged from the coupling engaging portion (drum drive input portion) 53, and the coupling 40 is disengaged from the coupling engaging portion (development drive input portion) 54. For this purpose, a releasing lever 48 (means for disconnecting the cartridge driving means) is provided rotatably relative to the coupling 39. Then, in interrelation with the movement of the supporting member 34R, a pin 47 provided on the lever 48 is moved from the position of
As shown in
Incidentally, in this embodiment, when the tray 35 is located at the position X, a positioning releasing means for releasing a state in which each cartridge DV is positioned by the positioning means 410, 411 and 41 is not particularly provided. In this embodiment, when the tray 35 is pulled out, the urging member 410 for each cartridge DV is hit by the moving cartridge DV and is rotationally moved about the supporting shaft 44 in the same direction as the pulling-out direction (the arrow a direction) of the tray 35 while compressing the urging spring 411. As a result, each cartridge DV passes below the urging member 410. On the other hand, when the tray 35 is moved in an accommodating direction, the urging member 410 for each cartridge DV is hit by the moving cartridge DV and is rotationally moved about the supporting shaft 44 in the pushing-in movement direction (the arrow b direction) while expanding the urging spring 411. As a result, each cartridge DV passes below the urging member 410. Then, in a state in which the tray 35 is finally located at the inside position X, the urging member 410 is urged against the inclined surface portion 401a of the cartridge DV. As a result, each cartridge DV is kept in a state in which the cartridge DV is positioned relative to the main assembly 100A by the urging force (elastic force) of an associated urging member (elastic member) 410.
As described above, in the apparatus in this embodiment employing the pulling-out type constitution, the cartridges DR and DV can be separately exchanged even when either one of the cartridges is replaced first. In addition, the cartridge DR and DV can be exchanged without demounting screws or parts (positioning supporting member and knob). As a result, the user can simply replace only the cartridge, of the cartridges DR and DV, necessary to be exchanged.
In this embodiment, when the tray 35 is located at the position X in the apparatus 100 in Embodiment 1 described above, a positioning releasing means 500 for releasing a state in which each cartridge DV is positioned by the positioning means 410, 411 and 41 is provided. In this embodiment, the means for releasing the urging force to be applied to the cartridge DV by the urging member 410 is used. As a result, the urging force can be released in advance when the tray 35 is inserted into the main assembly 100A. Therefore, an operating force required for the user to insert the tray 35 into the main assembly 100A can be reduced, so that good usability can be obtained. Further, it is possible to prevent image defect due to creep deformation caused in the case where the developing roller 4a is urged against the drum 1 for a long time with the same phase.
Slit portions 421A and 421B of the lever 421 are engaged with cut and erected portions 420A and 420B of the supporting metal plate 420. As a result, the lever 421 is horizontally supported slidably in the front-rear direction. The cut and erected portion 420A is provided with a hook-shaped portion 420A1. Further, between the hook-shaped portion 420A1 and a hook portion 421C provided on the lever 421, a coil spring (elastic member) 425 is connected. Main constituent elements of the driving means (mechanism) 501 will be described. The driving means includes a driving gear 526 to which the driving force is to be transmitted from an unshown driving source and gears 427 and 428, having partly lacking tooth, to which the driving force is to be transmitted from the driving gear 426. The driving means 501 also includes an urging lever 430 for urging a cam portion 427A of the gear 427 tooth an elastic by a force applied from a twist coil spring (elastic member) 429 and an electromagnetic solenoid 431 for effecting one rotation control of the gear 427 by engagement of a claw portion provided on the gear 428. The driving means 501 further includes a driving gear 423 engaged so as to be integrally rotated with the gear 427 and includes a cam gear 433 to be driven by the driving gear 432 and to be integrally rotated with the releasing cam 423 (
When the power is turned on and a flapper of the solenoid is pulled, engagement of the flapper with a claw portion (not shown) of the gear 428 is released. Then, the gear 428 and the gear 426 are in mesh by the urging force of coil springs (not shown) provided inside the gears 427 and 428. When the gear 428 is driven and rotated by a predetermined angle, the gear 428 is engaged with a stopper portion (not shown). As a result, the gear 427 is rotated integrally with the driving gear 432, so that the cam gear 433 is driven and rotated. When the gear 428 is rotated one full turn, the flapper of the solenoid 431 to which the power input is turned off is engaged with the above-described claw portion (not shown) to stop the rotation. Further, by the lever 430, the rotation of the gear 428 is also stopped with the same rotational phase. The gears 427 and 428 have the same number of tooth and the number of tooth thereof is ½ of that of the cam gear 433. Therefore, the cam gear 433 is rotated 180 degrees depending on ON/OFF of the power input to the solenoid 431 to switch between the urged state and the urge-released state. As shown in
Control of the switching between the positioning state of the urging member 410 and the positioning-released state of the urging member 410 by the positioning releasing means 500 is automatically performed by the circuit portion 200 in accordance with a set program. The circuit portion 200 controls the positioning releasing means 500 so that the urging member 410 is kept in the positioning-released state during a normal operation (during non-image formation with a stopped printer) and controls the positioning releasing means 500 so that the urging member 400 is kept in the positioning state during the image formation (during printing with an operated printer). In this embodiment, the means for releasing the urging force to be applied to the cartridge DV by the urging member 410 is employed. As a result, the urging force can be released in advance when the tray 35 is inserted into the main assembly 100A. Therefore, an operating force required for the user to insert the tray 35 into the main assembly 100A can be reduced, so that good usability can be obtained. Further, it is possible to prevent creep deformation caused in the case where the developing roller 4a is urged by the drum 1 for a long time with the same phase. However, depending on the material of the developing roller 4a, even in the case where the developing roller 4a is urged by the drum 1 for the long time, the creep deformation does not occur in some instances. Therefore, the releasing means 500 is not necessarily required but the above-described effect can be achieved by providing the releasing means 500.
In this Embodiment 3, a means for separating the developing roller 4a and the drum 1 when the urging force applied to the cartridge DV by the urging member 410 is released by the positioning releasing means 500 described in Embodiment 2 is employed. That is, an elastic force imparting member for imparting an elastic force toward a direction in which the drum 1 of the cartridge DR and the developing roller 4a of the cartridge DV are separated from each other when the tray 35 is located at the position X will be described. According to this embodiment, only with developing timing (during image formation), the developing roller 4a can be caused to contact and urge the drum 1. That is, with timings other than the developing timing, the developing roller 4a can be separated from the drum 1. As a result, abrasion (wearing) between the developing roller 4a and the drum 1 can be suppressed to the minimum level. Incidentally, the developing roller 4a and the drum 1 may also lightly contact each other compared with those during the development (during the image formation) without being separated from each other.
(Positioning of cartridges DR and DV at inside position X)
As described above, the positioning of the cartridges DR and DV relative to the main assembly 100A is performed as follows.
Into the tray 35 located at the outside position Y, the user inserts the cartridges DR and DV from above (
Next, the positioning of the cartridge DR relative to the main assembly 100A will be described. With respect to the cartridges DR, when their upper surfaces 70 are urged by the urging members 42, their lower surface portions 51 are urged against the main assembly-side positioning portions 41Y2, 41M2, 41C2 and 41K2 (
Next, the positioning of the cartridge DV relative to the main assembly 100A will be described. With respect to the cartridges DR, when their inclined surface portions 401a are urged by the urging members 410, their lower surface portions 404 are urged against the main assembly-side positioning portions 41Y1, 41M1, 41C1 and 41K1 (
Incidentally, with respect to the first process cartridge-side portion to be positioned (the lower surface portion 51) and the first developing cartridge-side portion to be positioned (the lower surface portion 404), the example in which they are provided at one end and the other end lower surfaces of the frames DR1 and DV1 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cartridges DR and DV (
Further, after the tray 35 is pulled out to the outside position Y, the cartridges DR and DV can be demounted even when either one of the cartridges is demounted first. When the cartridge DR is demounted first, the cartridge DR is raised, so that the cartridge DV is rotated about the lower surface 404 in the direction in which the developing roller 4a is separated from the drum 1. Therefore, even when the drum 1 and the developing roller 4a have contacted each other, there is no damage on both of the drum 1 and the developing roller 4a. Further, when the cartridge DV is demounted first, the cartridge DV is raised, so that the developing roller 4a is separated from the drum 1. Therefore, there is no damage on both of the developing roller 4a and the drum 1. Also when the cartridges DR and DV are mounted, similar operations are performed and similar effects are obtained.
(1) In the above-described embodiments, the tray 35 which is to be moved linearly in the horizontal direction with respect to the mounting surface F of the apparatus main assembly 100A is described. However, the tray (cartridge supporting member) 35 in the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the tray 35 may also be movable linearly in a direction which intersects the longitudinal direction of the drum 1 and is the horizontal direction, the slanting upward direction or the slanting downward direction with respect to the mounting surface F of the main assembly 100A.
(2) The number of the sets (pairs) of the drum cartridges DR and the developing cartridges DV is not limited to four in the embodiments described above but may also be changed to two, three or five or more. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the plurality of pairs of the cartridges DR and the cartridges DV is described but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is also applicable to a single color (monochromatic) electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a pair of the cartridge DR and the cartridge DV.
(3) The contact and separation between the drum 1 and the belt 13 may also be performed by a method in which the intermediary transfer belt unit 12 is moved relatively to the tray 35 supporting the cartridge DR and the cartridge DV or by a method in which both the belt unit 12 and the tray 35 are moved.
(4) In the above-described embodiments, the intermediary transfer belt unit 12 may also be a recording material (medium) covering transfer belt for holding and conveying the sheet recording material) P.
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the tray 35 supports the plurality of sets of the cartridges DR and DV side by side in the direction in which the longitudinal direction of the drum 1 of each cartridge DR and the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4a of each cartridge DV are perpendicular to the pull-out direction a. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, in the above-described embodiments, the tray 35 supports the plurality of sets of the cartridges DR and DV side by side in the direction in which the longitudinal direction of the drum 1 of each cartridge DR and the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4a of each cartridge DV are parallel to the pull-out direction a. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention is applicable even in the case where each of the cartridges DR and DV is supported by the tray 35 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge extends along (is parallel to) the pull-out direction a of the tray 35.
Further, according to the above-described embodiments, when the cartridge pair of DVK and DRK located on the lowermost-stream side with respect to the pull-out direction a is mounted in and demounted from the tray 35, the entire tray 35 is not required to be located outside the apparatus main assembly 100A. Even in such a case, the tray 35 is pulled out toward the outside direction rather than the case where the cartridges DV and DR are located at the inside position X. Therefore, rather than the case where the cartridges DV and DR are located at the inside position X, the tray 35 is pulled out toward the front side of the apparatus main assembly 100A, so that the cartridges DV and DR are easy for the user to be exchanged.
Further, the present invention includes not only the case where the tray 35 is linearly moved but also the case where the tray 35 is rotationally moved. This is because the mounting and demounting operativity of the cartridge relative to the tray 35 is improved.
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the constitution in which the developing roller 4a and the drum 1 contact each other by the urging force of the urging member 410 is described but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the developing roller 4a may also be urged against the drum 1 through a spacer (not shown) provided at one end and the other end of the developing roller 4a. In this case, the developing roller 4a is urged toward the drum 1 in a state in which the developing roller 4a is spaced from the drum 1.
According the above-described embodiments, it was possible to improve demounting operativity for demounting the cartridges DV and DR from the tray 35. Further, when the cartridges DV and DR are demounted from the tray 35, the cartridges can be separately demounted from each other and the demounting order is not limited. Further, when the cartridges DV and DR are demounted from the tray 35, the cartridges can be separately demounted from each other and the cartridges can be demounted even when either one of the cartridges is demounted first. Further, the user himself (herself) of the apparatus 100 can demount the cartridges DV and DR separately from each other. Further, according to the above-described embodiments, similar effects can be achieved also when the cartridges DV and DR are mounted in the tray 35.
According to the above-described embodiments, it was possible to provide the image forming apparatus 100 which had achieved the above-described effects. Further, according to the above-described embodiments, it was possible to provide the cartridges DR and DV which had achieved the above-described effects.
According to the present invention, it is possible to improve demounting operativity for demounting the process cartridge and the developing cartridge from the cartridge supporting member.
According to the present invention, when the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are demounted from the cartridge supporting member, the cartridges can be separately demounted from each other and the demounting order is not limited.
According to the present invention, when the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are demounted from the cartridge supporting member, the cartridges can be separately demounted from each other and can also be demounted even when either one of the cartridges is demounted first.
According to the present invention, it is possible to demount the process cartridge and the developing cartridge separately from each other by the user himself (herself).
While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purpose of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-100773 | Apr 2009 | JP | national |
| 2010-085888 | Apr 2010 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/057202 | 4/16/2010 | WO | 00 | 7/13/2011 |
