PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates to a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus which employs a process cartridge.

Here, an “electrophotographic image forming apparatus” means an apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), or the like, which forms an image on recording medium, with the use of an electrophotographic image forming method.

A “process cartridge” means a cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and one or more process means, that is, a charging means, and a developing means or a cleaning means, for processing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, are integrally disposed so that they can be removably mountable in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. More specifically, a process cartridge is a cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and at least one among the abovementioned processing means, such as a developing means, a charging means, and a cleaning means, are integrally disposed. It also means a cartridge in which at least a developing means as a processing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, are integrally disposed so that they can be removably mountable in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

In the field of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which employs one of the electrophotographic image formation processes, a process cartridge system has long been employed, according to which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a single or plurality of processing means which act on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, are integrally disposed in a cartridge to make it possible for them to be removably mountable in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. Also according to this process cartridge system, an image forming apparatus can be maintained by a user himself, without relying on a service person, drastically improving the image forming apparatus in operability. Thus, a process cartridge system is widely in use in the field of image forming apparatus.

The image forming operation of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is as follows: First, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is exposed to a beam of light projected from a laser, an LED, an ordinary electric light, or the like, while being modulated with pictorial information, forming thereby an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing apparatus. Then, the developed image on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto recording medium; an image is formed on the recording medium.

Referring to FIG. 21, as one of the image forming apparatuses which employ the above described process cartridge, an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus 200 of the inline type has been known, which is an image forming apparatus, which is an image forming apparatus in which multiple process cartridges 170 (170a-170d) are juxtaposed in a single straight row.

As one of the structural arrangements for precisely positioning the above described process cartridge relative to the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, a structural arrangement which provides the left and right lateral plates in the image forming apparatus with a recess (recesses) or hole (holes) for positioning a photosensitive drum is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,527. According to this structural arrangement, a bearing with which each of the lengthwise end portions of the photosensitive drum is fitted is pressed against the preset portion (portions) of the edge of the abovementioned recess (recesses) or hole (holes), by a tortional coil spring (pressing member) to precisely position the photosensitive drum. More specifically, as the process cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a V-shaped projection, with which one end of the torsion spring is provided, comes into contact with the bearing, being thereby rotated against the resiliency of the torsion spring. Then, as soon as the bearing rides over the V-shaped projection, the V-shaped projection presses the bearing upon the abovementioned portion (portions) of the recess (recesses) or hole (holes).

The operation for mounting a process cartridge into the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, or removing a process cartridge from the main assembly, is desired to be as simple as possible in the operation which an operator is required to carry out, and as small as possible in the amount of force required of an operator.

The present invention is one of the further developments of the above described prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly smaller in the amount of force required of an operator when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly better in operability when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly better in terms of the accuracy with which the process cartridge is positioned relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly more stable in the pressure applied for correctly positioning the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is higher in the accuracy with which the process cartridge is positioned relative to the main assembly, when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly smaller in the amount of force necessary to mount the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus than that in accordance with the prior art.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly better in operability when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and smaller in the amount of force necessary to mount the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly more reliable in terms of the positioning of the cartridge when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly higher in the accuracy with which the process cartridge is positioned relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus than that in accordance with the prior art.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly more reliable in terms of the positioning of the cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, when mounting the process cartridge into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a combination of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is significantly more stable in the pressure applied to the process cartridge, and is significantly more precise in the positioning of the cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, than that in accordance with the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly of the apparatus includes a main assembly side positioning portion, an urging member rotatable about a rotation axis to take an urging position for urging said process cartridge to the main assembly side positioning portion, a retracted position retracted from the urging position and a stand-by position which is in a movement path of said process cartridge, and wherein said rotation axis, said urging portion and a portion-to-be-displaced are arranged in the order named, said process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a portion to be positioned; a displacing portion provided to move the urging member from the stand-by position to the retracted position by contacting the portion-to-be-displaced disposed at a position remoter from the rotation axis than the urging portion when said process cartridge advances along an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the main assembly, said displacing portion being effective to move the urging member to the retracted position by contacting the urging member when said process cartridge advances in the main assembly; a portion-to-be-urged to be urged by the urging portion in a state in which process cartridge is set in the main assembly, wherein when said process cartridge advances in the main assembly, said portion-to-be-urged is urged toward the main assembly side positioning portion so that portion to be positioned is abutted to the main assembly side positioning portion by the urging member moving to the urging position after being retracted to the retracted position by said displacing portion, wherein said portion to be positioned is positioned to the main assembly side positioning portion by said portion-to-be-urged being urged by the urging portion in a state in which process cartridge is set in the main assembly.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus in the first of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, showing the general structure of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge, showing the general structure of the cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge and image forming apparatus when the former is in the position from which it is mounted into the latter.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the cartridge positioning portion of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and the cartridge pressing portion of the main assembly of the image forming, showing their structures.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the cartridge positioning mechanism and cartridge pressing mechanism, on the rear side, of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, showing their structures.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the cartridge positioning mechanism and cartridge pressing mechanism, on the front side, of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, showing their structures.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, as seen from the right-hand side (as seen from front side of main assembly), showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, as seen from the leading end side of the cartridge in terms of the direction in which the cartridge is mounted, showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing front mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, as seen from the left-hand side (as seen from front side of main assembly), showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing front mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, as seen from the trailing end side of the cartridge in terms of the direction in which the cartridge is mounted, showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing which shows the directions in which force is applied during the mounting or removal of the cartridge.

FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the cartridge in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing which depicts the cartridge positioning mechanism and cartridge pressing mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the cartridge, at a horizontal plane which coincides with the axial line of the photosensitive drum, as seen from above.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment, as seen from the right-hand side (as seen from front side of main assembly), showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment, as seen from the leading end side of the cartridge in terms of the direction in which the cartridge is mounted, showing the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the drum grounding member and its adjacencies, showing their structures.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the drum grounding portion of the cartridge, showing the structure thereof.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the drum grounding portion of the cartridge, and the drum grounding portion of the main assembly, showing their structures.

FIG. 21 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1

Hereafter, the process cartridge (which hereafter will be referred to as “cartridge” and electrophotographic color image forming apparatus (which hereafter will be referred to as “image forming apparatus”) in the first of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings.

(General Structure of Image Forming Apparatus)

First, referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus in this embodiment will be described regarding its general structure. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 has four cartridge bays 22 (22a-22d), that is, the spaces into which four cartridges are mountable one for one (FIG. 3). The four cartridge bays 22 are juxtaposed side by side (in parallel), in a single straight row angled relative to the horizontal direction. The cartridge 7 in each cartridge bay 22 (22a-22d) has one electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 (1a-1d).

The electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 (which hereafter may be referred to as “photosensitive drum”) is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction of the drawing, by a driving member (unshown). Each cartridge 7 also has the following processing means, which are disposed in the adjacencies of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in a manner to surround the photosensitive drum 1, in the order in which they will be listed next. They are a cleaning means 6 (6a-6d), which removes the developer (which hereafter may be referred to as “toner”) remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer, a charge roller 2 (2a-2d) which uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1, a scanner unit 3 which forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1, by emitting a beam of laser light while modulating the beam of laser light with pictorial information, a development unit 4 (4a-4d) which develops the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 with the use of toner, and an intermediary transfer belt 5 onto which the four toner images on the photosensitive drums, one for one, which are different in color, are sequentially transferred. The photosensitive drum 1, cleaning member 6, charge roller 2, and development unit 4 are integrated in the form of a cartridge (process cartridge), that is, the cartridge 7, which is removably mountable in the main assembly 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 by a user.

The intermediary transfer belt 5 is stretched around a driver roller 10 and a tension roller 11, being thereby supported by them. The main assembly 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with first transfer rollers 12 (12a-12d), which are on the inward side of the loop which the intermediary transfer belt 5 forms. The first transfer rollers 12 are positioned so that they oppose the photosensitive drums 1 (1a-1d), one for one. To the transfer belt 5, transfer bias is applied from a bias applying means (unshown).

After the formation of a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1, the toner image is transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt 5. More specifically, four toner images are formed on the four photosensitive drums 1, one for one. Then, as the four photosensitive drums 1 are further rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark Q, and the intermediary transfer belt 5 is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark R, the four toner images are sequentially transferred (first transfer) in layers onto the intermediary transfer belt 5, by the positive bias applied to the first transfer rollers 12. Then, the four layers of toner images on the intermediary transfer belt 5, which are different in color, are conveyed to a second transferring portion 15.

Meanwhile, in synchronism with the progression of the abovementioned image forming operation, a sheet S of recording medium is conveyed by a sheet conveying means made up of a sheet feeding-and-conveying apparatus 13, a pair of registration rollers 17, etc. The sheet feeding-and-conveying apparatus 13 has a sheet feeder cassette 24 in which multiple sheets S are storable, a sheet feeder roller 8 which conveys the sheet S, and a pair of sheet conveying rollers 16 which conveys further the sheet S after the feeding of the sheet S into the main assembly 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. The main assembly 100a is structured so that the sheet feeder cassette 24 can be pulled out of the main assembly 100a in the frontward direction of the main assembly 100a, in FIG. 1. The sheets S in the sheet feeder cassette 24 are kept pressed by the sheet feeder roller 8, and fed into the main assembly 100a by the sheet feeder roller 8, while being separated one by one by a sheet separator pad 9 (friction-based sheet separating method).

After being fed into the main assembly 100a from the sheet feeding apparatus 13, the sheet S is conveyed to the second transfer portion 15 by the pair of registration rollers 17. In the second transfer portion 15, positive bias is applied to the second transfer roller 18, whereby the four toner image on the intermediary transfer belt 5, which are different in color, are transferred (second transfer) onto the sheet S as the sheet S is conveyed through the second transfer portion 15.

A fixing portion 14 as a fixing means is a portion of the image forming apparatus, which fixes the toner images on the sheet S by applying heat and pressure. A fixation belt 14a is cylindrical, and is guided by a belt guiding member (unshown) having a heat generating means, such as a heater, bonded to the belt guiding member. The fixation belt 14a and a pressure application roller 14b are kept pressed against with each other by the application of a preset amount of pressure thereto, forming thereby the fixation nip.

After the transfer of the toner images (unfixed toner images) onto the sheet S from the image forming portion, the sheet S is conveyed to the fixing portion 14, and then, is conveyed through the fixation nip between the fixation belt 14a and pressure application roller 14b in the fixing portion 14. As the sheet S is conveyed through the fixation nip, the sheet S and the toner images thereon are subjected to heat and pressure. As a result, the unfixed toner images on the sheet S become fixed to the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S having the fixed toner images is discharged into a delivery tray 20 by a pair of sheet discharging rollers 19.

Meanwhile, the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner image transfer is removed by the cleaning member 6. Then, the removed toner is recovered into a chamber for the recovered toner, which is in the photosensitive member unit 26 (26a-26d).

As for the toner remaining on the intermediary transfer belt 5 after the transfer (second transfer) of the toner images onto the sheet S, it is removed by a transfer belt cleaning apparatus 23. The removed toner is recovered into a waste toner container (unshown) located in the rear portion of the image forming apparatus, through the waste toner passage (unshown).

(Cartridge)

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the cartridge in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 7, in which a substantial amount of toner t is present. Incidentally, a cartridge 7a, that is, a cartridge in which the toner t of yellow color is present, a cartridge 7b, that is, a cartridge in which the toner t of magenta color is present, a cartridge 7c, that is, a cartridge in which the toner t of cyan color is present, and a cartridge 7d, that is, a cartridge in which the toner t of black color is present, are the same in structure.

Each cartridge 7 is made up of a photosensitive member unit 26 and a development unit 4. The photosensitive member unit 26 is provided with the photosensitive drum 1, charge roller 2 (charging means), and cleaning member 6 (cleaning means). The development unit 4 has a development roller 25.

The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably supported by the cleaning means frame 27 of the photosensitive member unit 26, with the interposition of a pair of bearings which will be described later. In an image forming operation, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven, by transmitting to the photosensitive member unit 26 the driving force from a motor (unshown). There are the charge roller 2 and cleaning member 6 in the adjacencies of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 as described above. As the above described transfer residual toner is removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning member 6, the removed toner falls into a chamber 27a for the removed toner. The cleaning means frame 27 is also provided with a pair of charge roller bearings 28, which are attached to the cleaning means frame 27 in such a manner that the charge roller bearings 28 are movable in the direction indicated by a double-headed arrow mark D, which connects the centers of the charge roller 2 and photosensitive drum 1. The shaft 2j of the charge roller 2 is rotatably supported by the charge roller bearings 28, and the bearings 28 are kept pressured toward the photosensitive drum 1 by a pair of charge roller pressing members 46.

The development unit 4 has the development roller 25 and a developing means frame 31. The development roller 25 rotates in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow mark B. The development roller 25 is rotatably supported by a developing means frame 31. More specifically, the development roller 25 is supported by a pair of bearing members 32 (32R and 32L) attached to the lengthwise ends of the developing means frame 31. The development unit 4 is provided with a toner supply roller 34 and a development blade 35. The toner supply roller 34 rotates in contact with the development roller 25 in the direction indicated by an arrow mark C. The development blade 35 is for regulating in thickness the toner layer on the peripheral surface of the development roller 25. Further, the development unit 4 has a toner conveying member 36 for conveying the toner in the toner storage portion 31a of the development unit 4 to the toner supply roller 34 while stirring the toner. The toner conveying member 36 is in the toner storage portion 31a.

The development unit 4 is connected to the photosensitive member unit 26. More specifically, a pair of pins 37 (37R and 37L) are put through, one for one, the holes 32Rb and 32Lb of the bearing members 32R and 32L, respectively, so that the development unit 4 is pivotally movable relative to the photosensitive member unit 26 about the pins 37 (37R and 37L). The development unit 4 is under the pressure from pressure application springs 38. Therefore, when the cartridge 7 is used for image formation in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the development unit 4 rotates about the pins 37 in the direction indicated by an arrow mark A, placing thereby the development roller 25 in contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

(Structure of Means for Mounting Cartridge into Main Assembly of Image Forming Apparatus)

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the portion of the cartridge, which allows the cartridge to be removably mounted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and the portion of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, which allows the cartridge to be removably mounted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, will be described regarding their structures.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge and image forming apparatus when the former is in the position from which it is mounted into the latter. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the cartridge and the main assembly 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 are structured so that the former is inserted into the latter, in the front-to-rear direction, that is, the direction indicated by an arrow mark F, which is parallel to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, so that the cartridge 7 can be removably mounted into the main assembly 100a.

Referring to FIG. 3, the main assembly 100a is provided with a cover 21 (front cover), which is on the front side of the main assembly 100a. The front cover 21 can be opened or closed. Opening the front cover 21 exposes the four cartridge bays 22 (22a-22d), which are for the cartridges 7 (7a-7d), one for one. The four cartridge bays 22 are juxtaposed side by side (in parallel), in a singe straight row angled relative to the horizontal direction. The main assembly 100a is provided with top cartridge guides 80 (80a-80d) as first cartridge guides of the main assembly 100a, and bottom cartridge guides 81 (81a-80d) as second cartridge guides of the main assembly 100a. The top and bottom cartridge guides 80 and 81 are located at the top and bottom of the four cartridge bays 22, one for one, and extend from the front to rear of the main assembly 100a. The photosensitive member unit 26 of each cartridge 7 is provided with a projection 29 (first portion by which cartridge is guided), and a tongue-like portion 30 (second portion by which cartridge guided) by which the cartridge 7 is guided when the cartridge 7 is mounted into, or removed from, the corresponding cartridge bay 22. More specifically, in order to mount the cartridge 7 into the corresponding cartridge bay 22, the projection 29 and tongue-like portion 30 of the photosensitive member unit 26 are to be fitted in the cartridge guides 80 and 81 of the main assembly 100a, respectively, and then, the cartridge 7 is to be pushed into the cartridge bay in the direction indicated by an arrow mark F in the drawing.

Incidentally, the abovementioned projection 29 (first portion of cartridge 7, by which cartridge 7 is guided) is located at the top of the leading end of the cartridge 7, in terms of the direction in which the cartridge 7 is inserted into the main assembly 100a, whereas the tongue-like portion 30 (second portion of cartridge 7, by which cartridge 7 is guided) is on the bottom surface of the cartridge 7, and extends from the leading end to the trailing end.

Each cartridge 7 is also provided with a pair of cartridge positioning portions 40a and 50a (by which cartridge 7 is positioned relative to main assembly 100a), which are located at the leading and trailing ends of the cartridge 7, in terms of the abovementioned cartridge insertion direction. The operation to mount the cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100a concludes as the cartridge 7 becomes correctly positioned in the main assembly 100a. Incidentally, for the purpose of controlling the rotation of the cartridge 7, which occurs as driving force is transmitted to the cartridge 7, the leading end of the cartridge 7 is provided with a shaft 27b (FIG. 4), which protrudes in the direction parallel to the cartridge mounting direction (cartridge insertion direction), whereas the trailing end of the cartridge 7 is provided with a groove 27c, which is U-shaped in cross section. As the cartridge 7 becomes correctly positioned in the main assembly 100a, the shaft 27b fits into a hole 82b (FIG. 5) of the main assembly 100a, which is elongated in cross section, and the shaft 92c (FIG. 5) of the main assembly 100a fits into the groove 27c of the cartridge 7.

In terms of the direction in which the cartridge 7 advances as it is inserted into the main assembly 100a, the projection 29 (by which cartridge 7 is guided) of the cartridge 7 is located at the top of the leading end of the cartridge 7, as described above. The tongue-like portion 30 of the cartridge 7 is on the bottom surface of the cartridge 7, extending from the leading end of the cartridge 7 to the trailing end of the cartridge 7. Further, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, the tongue-like portions 29 and 30 are on the same side of the photosensitive drum 1.

Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 reliably advances into the main assembly 100a.

As for the structural arrangement for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in the main assembly 100a, it will be described later in detail.

(Structure for Correctly Positioning Cartridge, and Structure for Pressing Cartridge)

Next, referring to FIGS. 4-7, the structural arrangement, in this embodiment, for correctly positioning the cartridge relative to the main assembly 100a, and the structural arrangement for pressing the cartridge to correctly positioning the cartridge, will be described.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the cartridge in this embodiment. The photosensitive drum 1, which the cartridge 7 has, is rotatably supported, by the lengthwise end portions of its shaft (unshown), by a pair of bearings 40 and 50, one for one, which are solidly attached to the cleaning means frame 27.

The bearing 40 (first bearing which supports one of lengthwise ends of shaft of photosensitive drum 1) is the bearing on the rear side, that is, the leading end side in terms the direction in which the cartridge 7 is made to advance in the main assembly 100a when it is mounted into the main assembly 100a. It is provided with a cartridge positioning first portions 40a (40a1, 40a2), which are two portions of the top side of the peripheral surface of the bearing 40a. More specifically, the cartridge positioning first portion 40a (which is made up of portions 40a1 and 40a2) is for correctly positioning the leading end of the cartridge 7 relative to the main assembly 100a, in terms of the direction vertical to the abovementioned cartridge advancement direction. It is arcuate in cross section. Incidentally, in terms of the cartridge advancement direction, the bearing 40, that is, the bearing which will be at the deepest end of the cartridge bay, is located at the downstream end of the cartridge 7 (FIG. 4). The cartridge 7 is also provided with a pressure catching portion 40b, which catches the pressure applied to the cartridge 7 by the cartridge pressing member 83 (which may be referred to as pressure applying member, or upwardly pushing member), which is a portion of the bottom side of the peripheral surface of the cartridge positioning first portion 40a. Incidentally, the above-mentioned cartridge advancement direction is the direction in which the cartridge 7 is advanced into the main assembly 100a when a user mounts the cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100a.

Further, the abovementioned cartridge positioning portions 40a (40a1 and 40a2) is positioned so that it straddles the axial line I of the photosensitive drum 1 (FIG. 15). That is, the cartridge 7 has the cartridge positioning first portion 40a1, which is on one side of the axial line I of the photosensitive drum 1, and the cartridge positioning second portion 40a2, which is on the other side of the axial line I of the photosensitive drum 1. The cartridge positioning first portion 40a1 (positioning portion on leading end side) is on the opposite side of the abovementioned axial line I from the cartridge positioning second portion 40a2 (positioning portion on trailing end side) (FIG. 15). As for the abovementioned pressure catching portion 40b, it is on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 1 in terms of the cartridge advancement direction. As seen from the direction J (FIG. 9(c)) in which upward pressure is applied by the abovementioned pressing member 83 (pressure applying member, upwardly pushing member), the pressure catching portion 40b is (roughly at the mid point) between the cartridge positioning first and second portions 40a1 and 40a2. Therefore, as the pressure catching portion 40b is pressed, the cartridge positioning portion 40a is reliably pressed upon the cartridge catching portion 82a (cartridge positioning first portion on main assembly side), being thereby correctly positioned relative to the main assembly 100a. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the cartridge 7 is provided with the cartridge positioning first and second portions 40a1 and 40a2 as the cartridge positioning portions on the leading end side. Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is more reliably pressed upon the cartridge catching (pressure catching) portion 82a of the main assembly 100a. However, the number of the cartridge positioning portions with which the leading end of the cartridge 7 is provided may be only one, as long as it is properly positioned.

Further, the cartridge 7 is provided with a pushing member 40c, which is the first pushing member for moving the pressing member 83 into its retreat. With reference to the center of the cartridge 7, in terms of the horizontal direction perpendicular to the abovementioned cartridge advancement direction, the pushing portion 40c is located closer to the lengthwise end wall of the cartridge 7 than the pressure catching portion 40b. The pushing portion 40c is protruding downstream from the downstream end wall of the cartridge 7 in terms of the cartridge advancement direction, and its end portion is provided with a projection 40d which is projecting downward. More specifically, the projection 40d of the pushing portion 40c is tapered, providing thereby gently slanted surfaces 40e and 40f, that is, the slanted surfaces on the downstream and upstream sides, respectively, which are slanted so that their intersection is the peak of the projection 40d (projection 40d).

Further, the bearing 40, that is, the bearing on the rear side, is provided with a first contact portion 40h (cartridge movement regulating first portion of cartridge), which protrudes further upward than the cartridge positioning portion 40a. The first contact portion 40h is flat across the top surface (end surface), and is between one end of the cartridge positioning first portion 40a1 and the other end of the cartridge positioning second portion 40a2. That is, the first contact surface 40h is between the cartridge positioning first and second portions 40a1 and 40a2; the cartridge positioning first portion 40a1 is located next to one end of the first contact surface 40h, and the cartridge positioning second portion 40a2 is located next to the other end of the first contact surface 40h. Located on the upstream of the first contact surface 40h in terms of the cartridge mounting direction is a surface 40g, which is closer to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1 than the top surface of the first contact surface 40h. Further, the bearing 40, that is, the bearing on the rear end, is provided with a contact surface 40i, which is the surface for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 7. Incidentally, as the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly 100a, the contact surface 40i comes into contact with the inward surface of the rear lateral panel of the main assembly 100a, ensuring that the cartridge 7 is correctly position in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 7.

Next, the bearing 50 (second bearing, that is, bearing which supports other end of photosensitive drum 1 in terms of direction parallel to axial line of photosensitive drum 1) will be described. The bearing 50 is the bearing on the front side, that is, the trailing side in terms of the abovementioned cartridge advancement direction. The bearing 50, that is, the bearing on the front side, is provided with cartridge positioning second portions 50a (50a1 and 50a2), which are two portions of the top side of the peripheral surface of the bearing 50. More specifically, the cartridge positioning second portions 50a (portions 50a1 and 50a2) are for correctly positioning the front end of the cartridge 7 relative to the main assembly 100a, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the abovementioned cartridge advancement direction. They are arcuate in cross section. The cartridge 7 is also provided with an upward pressure catching portion 50b, which catches the pressure applied to the cartridge 7 by an upwardly pulling member 93 (FIG. 5). The pressure catching portion 50b is located farther from the axial line of the bearing 50a than the cartridge positioning first portion 50a.

As described above, the cartridge 7 has the first bearing 40, which supports one of the lengthwise end portions of the photosensitive drum 1 in terms of the direction parallel to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1. The contact surface 40h and cartridge positioning first portions 40a (40a1 and 40a2) are portions of the peripheral surface of the first bearing 40. Further, the cartridge 7 has the second bearing 50 which supports the other lengthwise end of the photosensitive drum 1 in terms of the direction parallel to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1. The contact portion 50h (contact surface) and cartridge positioning second portions 50a are portions of the peripheral surface of the second bearing 50.

Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is precisely positioned relative to the main assembly 100a.

Incidentally, like the cartridge positioning portion 40a, that is, the cartridge positioning portion on the rear side, the cartridge positioning portion 50a has a cartridge positioning portion (cartridge positioning third portion 50a1), which is on one side of the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, and a cartridge positioning portion (cartridge positioning fourth portion 50a2), which is on the other side of the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1. The cartridge positioning third portion 50a1 (positioning portion on leading end side) is on the opposite side of the abovementioned axial line I from the cartridge positioning fourth portion 50a2 (positioning portion on trailing end side) (FIG. 15). As for the abovementioned pressure catching portion 50b, it is on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 1 in terms of the cartridge advancement direction. As seen from the direction K (FIG. 11(c)) in which upward pressure is applied by the abovementioned upwardly pulling member 93 (pressure applying member, upwardly pushing member), the pressure catching member 50b is (roughly at the mid point) between the cartridge positioning third and fourth portions 50a1 and 50a2. Therefore, as the pressure catching portion 50b is pressed, the cartridge positioning portions 50a are reliably pressed upon the pressure catching portion 92a, being thereby correctly positioned relative to the main assembly 100a.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the cartridge 7 is provided with the cartridge positioning third and fourth portions 50a1 a 50a2 as the cartridge positioning portions on the trailing end side. Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is more reliably pressed upon the pressure catching portions 92a of the main assembly 100a. However, the number of the cartridge positioning portions which the trailing end of the cartridge 7 is provided may be only one, as long as it is properly positioned.

Further, the cartridge 7 is provided with a pushing member 50c, which is the second pushing member for moving the upwardly pulling member 93 into its retreat. With reference to the center of the cartridge 7, in terms of the direction which is horizontal and perpendicular to the abovementioned cartridge advancement direction, the pushing portion 50c is located closer to the lengthwise end wall of the cartridge 7 than the pressure catching portion 50b. The pushing portion 50c is protruding downstream from the main portion of the bearing 50 in terms of the cartridge advancement direction, and its end portion is provided with a projection 50d which is projecting downward. More specifically, the projection 50d is tapered, providing thereby gently slanted surfaces 50e and 50f, that is, the slanted surfaces on the downstream and upstream sides, respectively, which are slanted in such a manner that their intersection is the peak of the projection 50d (projection 50d). Further, the bearing 50, that is, the bearing on the front side, is provided with a second contact portion 50h (contact surface, which serves as cartridge movement regulating portion), which protrudes further upward than the cartridge positioning portion 50a. The second contact portion 50h is flat across the top surface (second contact surface), and is between one end of the cartridge positioning third portion 50a1 and the other end of the cartridge positioning fourth portion 50a2. That is, the second contact surface 50h is between the cartridge positioning third and fourth portions 50a1 and 50a2; the cartridge positioning third portion 50a1 is located next to one end of the second contact surface 50h, and the cartridge positioning fourth portion 50a2 is located next to the other end of the second contact surface 50h. Located on the upstream of the contact surface 50h in terms of the cartridge mounting direction is a surface 50g, which is closer to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1 than the top surface of the first contact portion 50h.

Further, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, the top surface (area of first contact) of the contact portion 40h is different in position from the cartridge positioning first portions 40a (40a1 and 40a2). Also in terms of the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, the top surface (area of second contact) is different in position from the cartridge positioning second portions 50a (50a1 and 50a2).

Further, in terms of the above-mentioned cartridge advancement direction, the top surface (area of first contact) of the first contact portion 40h is on the leading end side, and the top surface (area of second contact) of the second contact portion 50h is on the trailing end side.

Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is precisely positioned relative to the main assembly 100a.

Further in terms of the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, the top surface of the contact surface 40h is between one end of the cartridge positioning portions 40a (40a1 and 40a2) and the other end of the cartridge positioning portions 40a (40a1 and 40a2). Also in terms of the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1, the top surface (area of contact) of the second contact portion 50h is between one end of the cartridge positioning second portions 50a (50a1 and 50a2) and the other.

Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is precisely positioned relative to the apparatus main assembly 100a.

Next, the structure of the cartridge positioning portion of the main assembly 100a, and the cartridge pressing mechanism of the main assembly 100a, will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing for describing the structure of the cartridge positioning portion of the main assembly 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, and the cartridge pressing mechanism of the main assembly 100a, and show the structures thereof. FIG. 6 is a detailed drawing of the cartridge positioning portion and cartridge pressing mechanism, on the rear side, and shows the structures thereof. FIG. 7 is a detailed drawing of the cartridge positioning portion and cartridge pressing mechanism, on the front side, and shows the structures thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5, the main assembly 100a is provided with a rear lateral panel 82, which is on the leading end side, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, and a front lateral panel 92, which is on the trailing end side. The lateral panel 92 is provided with a hole through which the cartridge 7 is removably mountable in the cartridge bay 22. The cartridge 7 is inserted into the main assembly 100a through this hole. Further, the cartridge 7 is inserted into the cartridge bay 22 in the direction of the arrow mark F, along the above described cartridge guiding top guide 80 and cartridge guiding bottom guide 81 (FIG. 3).

The lateral plate 82 is provided with two cartridge catching portions 82a (82a1 and 82a2), that is, the first portions of the main assembly, which are for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 relative to the main assembly in terms of the direction perpendicular to the direction (advancement direction) in which the cartridge 7 is mounted. The lateral plate 82 is also provided with the pressing member 83, which is for pressing the cartridge 7 toward the cartridge catching portion 82a by being under the pressure applied thereto by the resiliency (elastic force) of a compression spring 85. This pressing member 83 functions as an upwardly pushing member which keeps the cartridge 7 pressed upward by being pressed upward by the pressure applied by the compression spring 85.

The pressing member 83 is located under the cartridge catching portion 82a. It is attached to the lateral plate 82. More specifically, a shaft 84 solidly fixed to the lateral plate 82, that is, the lateral plate on the rear side, of the main assembly, is put through the through hole 83a, the axial line of which coincides with the pivotal axis of the pressing member 83, so that the pressing member 83 is enabled to take the cartridge pressing position in which it keeps the cartridge 7 pressed on the cartridge catching portions 82a, position in its retreat in which it does not press on the cartridge 7, and the standby position in which it remains in the path of the cartridge 7.

Further, the pressing member 83 is provided with a cartridge pushing portion 83b, by which the pressing member 83 pushes the cartridge when the pressing member 83 is in the cartridge pressing position. The cartridge pushing portion 83b corresponds in position to the pressure catching portion 40b of the cartridge 7. The pressing member 83 is also provided with a pressure catching first portion 83c for moving the pressing member 83 into the retreat. The pressure catching first portion 83c corresponds in position to the pushing portion 40c of the cartridge 7. The pressure catching first portion 83c is provided with an upward projection 83d. The upward projection 83d is provided with gently slanted surfaces 83e and 83f, which are the upstream and downstream surfaces of the projection 83d, respectively, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. The surfaces 83e and 83f are slanted so that the joint between the two surfaces is the peak of the projection 83d. Further, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction, the pressure catching portion 83c is located further outward (in terms of the radium direction of hole 83a) from the axial line of the hole 83a than the cartridge pushing portion 83b. That is, in terms of the lengthwise direction of the pressing member 83, the abovementioned axial line of the hole 83a, cartridge pressing portion 83b, and pressure catching portion 83c, are positioned in the listed order.

The lateral plate 82 is provided with a cartridge movement regulating first portion 86 (cartridge movement regulating first portion of main assembly) which prevents the cartridge 7 from moving upward by the reactive force generated as the cartridge pushes the pressing member 83 into its retreat. The cartridge movement regulating first portion 86 is formed of resin, and is located between the two cartridge catching portions 82a (82a1 and 82a2) of the lateral plate 82.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lateral plate 92 is provided with the cartridge insertion hole 92b, and two cartridge catching portions 92a (92a1 and 92a2), which function as the cartridge positioning second portions of the main assembly. The cartridge catching portions 92a are two portions of the top portion of the inward surface of the hole 92b, and are for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. Further, the lateral plate 92, that is, the frontal lateral plate of the main assembly, is provided with a cartridge pulling member 93 for upwardly pulling the cartridge 7 toward the cartridge catching portions 92a, by being under the tensional force generated by a pressure application spring 95, which is a tension spring. The cartridge pulling member 93 is located upward of the cartridge catching portions 92a. It is pivotally supported by the lateral plate 92; a shaft 94 solidly attached to the lateral plate 92 is put though a hole 93a (whose axial line is rotational axis) of the cartridge pulling member 93. The cartridge pulling member 93 is attached to (supported by) the lateral plate 92 so that it is enabled to take the position in which it keeps the cartridge 7 pressed upon the cartridge catching portions 92a, position in its retreat in which it is free from the force from the spring 95, and standby position in which it is in the path of the cartridge 7.

Further, the cartridge pulling member 93 is provided with a cartridge pulling portion 93b for pulling the cartridge upward when the cartridge pulling member 93 is in the cartridge pulling position. The cartridge pulling portion 93b corresponds in position to the cartridge pulling force catching portion 50b of the cartridge 7. The cartridge pulling member 93 is also provided with a cartridge catching second portion 93c for moving the cartridge pulling member 93 into its retreat. The cartridge catching second portion 93c corresponds in position to the pushing portion 50c of the cartridge 7. It is provided with an upward projection 93d, which has gently slanted surfaces 93e and 93f (FIG. 10) slanted so that their intersection is the peak of the upward projection 93d.

Further, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction, the cartridge catching portion 93c is located further outward from the axial line of the hole 93a than the cartridge pulling portion 93b. That is, in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge pulling member 93, the hole 93a, cartridge pulling portion 93b, and cartridge catching portion 93c are positioned in the listed order. Further, the lateral plate 92, that is, the frontal lateral plate of the main assembly, is provided a cartridge movement regulating second portion 96, which is for preventing the cartridge 7 from being moved upward by the reactive force which occurs as the cartridge pulling member 93 is pushed into its retreat. The cartridge movement regulating portion 96 is between the abovementioned two cartridge catching portions 92a (92a1 and 92a2).

Incidentally, in this embodiment, on the leading end side of the cartridge 7 in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, the pressure applying member 83 (pressing member, upwardly pushing member) is located below the cartridge catching portion 83a to press the cartridge upward from below to cause the cartridge 7 to bump into the cartridge catching portions 82a, whereas on the trailing side of the cartridge 7 in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, the cartridge pulling member 93 (cartridge pressing member) is positioned above the cartridge catching portions 92a to pull the cartridge 7 upward from above to cause the cartridge to bump into the cartridge catching portions 92a which are positioned above the cartridge. That is, as the cartridge 7 is moved into its image forming position in the main assembly 100a, the cartridge catching portion 82a (portion to be pressed) is pressed by the upward force from the cartridge pushing member 83. Thus, the cartridge positioning first and second portions 40a1 and 40a2 (cartridge positioning portions of cartridge, on leading end side) are correctly positioned by the cartridge catching portions 82a (cartridge positioning first portion of main assembly). Further, the upwardly pulling force catching portion 50b is pushed by the upwardly pulling force from the upwardly pulling member 93. Therefore, the cartridge positioning third and fourth portions 50a1 and 50a2 (cartridge positioning portions of cartridge, on trailing end side) are correctly positioned by the cartridge catching portions 92a (92a1 and 92a2) (cartridge positioning second portions of main assembly). Thus, the employment of this structural arrangement makes it possible to provide the lateral plate 92, that is, the frontal lateral plate of the main assembly, with the hole through which the cartridge 7 can be mounted into the cartridge bay 22. Therefore, the bearing 50, that is, one of the bearings in the adjacencies of the cartridge positioning portion, can be directly pressed. Therefore, the pressure applied to the bearing 50 remains stable. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is precisely positioned and remains precisely positioned. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 1 is precisely placed in contact with the intermediary transfer belt 5, and remains precisely in contact with the belt 5.

Incidentally, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in structural arrangement. That is, the cartridge pressing member 83 and cartridge pulling member 93 may be positioned on the leading and trailing end sides, respectively, as elastically pressing members, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, or vice versa. In either case, the above described effects can be obtained. (Operation of Cartridge Pressing Mechanism During Mounting and Removal of Cartridge)

Next, referring to FIGS. 8-11, the operations of the cartridge pressing mechanism during the mounting of the cartridge 7 into the image forming apparatus, and the removal of the cartridge 7 from the image forming apparatus, will be described.

(a) Leading End Side: Operations of Cartridge Pressing Mechanism During Mounting and Removal of Cartridge

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the right-hand side (as seen from front side) of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism of the main assembly. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the rear side of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism (leading end side in terms of cartridge mounting direction) of the main assembly.

The cartridge 7 is to be mounted in the direction indicated by the arrow mark F as described before. Referring to FIGS. 8(a) and 9(a), as the cartridge 7 is inserted, the slanted surface 40e of the pushing portion 40c of the bearing 40, that is, the rear bearing of the cartridge 7, comes into contact with the slanted surface 83e of the cartridge catching portion 83c (standby position). Then, as the cartridge 7 is inserted further, the pressing member 83 is gradually pushed down, causing the projection 40d of the pushing portion 40c to come into contact with the projection 83d of the cartridge catching portion 83c, as shown in FIG. 8(b). Consequently, the pressing member 83 retreats in the direction indicated by an arrow mark X (position in retreat).

More specifically, the pressing member 83 moves into the position in its retreat, in which its pressing portion 83b does not contact the pressure catching portion 40b of the cartridge 7, as shown in FIG. 9(b). Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, the pressure catching portion 40b is not subjected to any pressure. The pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 83 when it is mounted is removed by the pushing portion 40c, which is located further from the hole 83a. That is, the amount of force necessary to push down the pressing member 83 against the force which acts to upwardly push the cartridge 7 is reduced by the ratio between the distance from the axial line of the hole 83a to the pressure catching portion 40b (pushing portion 83b) and the distance from the axial line of the hole 83a to the pushing portion 40c (pressure catching portion 83c). Therefore, the amount of load to which the cartridge 7 is subjected when it is mounted is substantially smaller than the amount of pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 83; the amount of force required to mount the cartridge 7 is substantially smaller than the amount of the pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 83.

Further, when the cartridge 7 is mounted, the cartridge 7 is subjected to upward force, that is, the reactive force generated as the pressing member 83 is pushed down into its retreat. However, the contacting surface 40h comes into contact with the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge contacting first portion of the main assembly. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is prevented from moving upward. Here, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly and the main assembly contacting surface 40h are positioned so that they remain in contact with each other until immediately before the cartridge positioning portion 40a is correctly positioned by coming into contact with the cartridge catching portion 83. Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, more specifically, from the moment the cartridge 7 begins to receive the upward pressure from the pressing member 83 until immediately before the cartridge 7 is correctly positioned, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge regulating portion of the main assembly, which is formed of resin, and the contacting surface 40h, slide on each other, and therefore, the cartridge positioning portion 40a does not rub against the cartridge catching portion 82a of the main assembly, which is formed of a thin sheet of steel or the like. Therefore, the problem that the cartridge positioning portion 40a is shaved by the cartridge catching portion 82a is prevented.

As the cartridge 7 is inserted even further, the cartridge catching portion 83c is disengaged from the pushing portion 40c, and therefore, the pressing member 83 gradually returns to its pressing position from the retreat. Then, the cartridge 7 is inserted far enough for the contacting surface 40i, which is for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 7, to come into contact with the lateral plate 82, that is, the rear lateral plate of the main assembly, the pressing portion 83b comes into contact with the pressure catching portion 40b, as shown in FIGS. 8(c) and 9(c), causing the cartridge 7 to be pressed (pressing position) in the direction indicated by an arrow mark J (pressing direction in FIG. 9). During this process, the cartridge positioning portion 40a of the cartridge 7 bumps into the cartridge catching portion 82a of the rear lateral plate 82 of the main assembly, correctly positioning thereby the cartridge 7 in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. Also during this process, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly becomes disengaged from the contacting surface 40h; a preset amount of gap is created between the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 and the surface 40g (recessed surface). At the same time, the cartridge catching portion 83c moves past the pushing portion 40c; a preset amount of gap is created between the cartridge catching portion 83c and the recessed surface 40j.

As described above, the cartridge pressing mechanism is structured so that the pressing member 83 can be in the standby position, pressing position, and retreat. More specifically, in terms of the top to bottom direction, the standby position, pressing position, and retreat are located in the listed order. Therefore, the pressing member 83 applies a sufficient amount of pressure to the cartridge 7.

When removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, the cartridge mounting operation described above is to be carried out in reverse. The pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 83 is removed by the pushing portion 40c, which is more distant from the axial line of the hole 83a (rotational axis) than the pressure catching portion 40b, as it is during the mounting of the cartridge 7. Therefore, the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove the cartridge 7 in this embodiment is smaller than the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove a cartridge 7 in accordance with the prior art, as it is during the mounting of the cartridge 7.

Incidentally, whether mounting the cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100a, or removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, it is necessary to move the pressing member 83 in the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. In this embodiment, however, the projection 83d of the pressure catching portion 83c is provided with the gently slanted surfaces on the upstream and downstream sides, one for one, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. Further, the projection 40d of the pushing portion 40c is provided with gently slanted surfaces on the upstream and downstream, one for one, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. Further, when the cartridge 7 is mounted, the slanted surface 40e of the pushing portion 40c comes into contact with the slanted surface 83e of the pressure catching portion 83c, whereas when the cartridge 7 is removed, the slanted surface 40f of the pushing portion 40c comes into contact with the slanted surface 83f of the pressure catching portion 83c. The movement of the pressing member 83 in the direction of the arrow mark X begins under the above described condition. In other words, the cartridge pressing mechanism in this embodiment is structured so that the slanted surfaces of the cartridge 7 remain in contact with the slanted surfaces of the main assembly 100a while the pressing member 83 moves. Therefore, the cartridge 7 smoothly moves into the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted, and also, smoothly comes out of the main assembly when the cartridge 7 is removed.

(b) Trailing End Side: Operations of Cartridge Pressing Mechanism During Mounting and Removal of Cartridge

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the left-hand side (as seen from front side) of the cartridge pressing front mechanism of the main assembly. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the front side of the cartridge pressing front (trailing end side in terms of cartridge mounting direction) mechanism of the main assembly.

As the cartridge 7 is inserted, the slanted surface 50e of the pushing portion 50c of the bearing 50, that is, the front bearing of the cartridge 7, comes into contact with the slanted surface 93e of the cartridge catching portion 93c (standby position), as shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 11(a). Then, as the cartridge 7 is inserted further, the upwardly pulling member 93 is gradually pushed down, causing the projection 50d of the pushing portion 50c to come into contact with the projection 93d of the cartridge catching portion 93c, as shown in FIG. 10(b). Consequently, the upwardly pulling member 93 retreats in the direction indicated by an arrow mark Y (position in retreat). More specifically, the upwardly pulling member 93 retreats into a position in which its upward force applying portion 93b does not contact the upward force catching portion 50b of the cartridge 7, as shown in FIG. 11(b). Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, the upward force catching portion 50b is not subjected to the upward pressure.

The pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the upwardly pulling member 93 when it is mounted is removed by the pushing portion 50c, which is located further from the axial line of the hole 93a than the upward force catching portion 50b. That is, the amount of force necessary to push down the upwardly pulling member 93 against the force which acts to upwardly push the cartridge 7 is reduced by an amount equivalent to the ratio between the distance from the axial line of the hole 93a to the upward force catching portion 50b (upwardly pulling force applying portion 93b) and the distance from the axial line of the hole 93a to the pushing portion 50c (upwardly pulling member 93). Therefore, the amount of load to which the cartridge 7 is subjected when it is mounted is substantially smaller than the amount of pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the upwardly pulling member 93; the amount of force required to mount the cartridge 7 is substantially smaller than the amount of force which the cartridge 7 receives from the upwardly pulling member 93.

Further, when the cartridge 7 is mounted, the cartridge 7 is subjected to upward force, that is, the reactive force generated as the upwardly pulling member 93 is pushed down into its retreat. However, the contacting surface 50h comes into contact with the cartridge movement regulating portion 96, that is, the cartridge contacting second portion of the main assembly. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is prevented from moving upward. Here, the cartridge movement regulating portion 96 of the main assembly and the main assembly contacting surface 50h are positioned so that they remain in contact with each other until immediately before the cartridge positioning portion 50a is correctly positioned by coming into contact with the cartridge catching portion 92a. Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, more specifically, from the moment the cartridge 7 begins to receive the upward force from the upwardly pulling member 93 until immediately before the cartridge 7 is correctly positioned, the cartridge movement regulating portion 96, that is, the cartridge regulating portion of the main assembly, which is formed of resin, and the cartridge contacting surface 50h, slide on each other, and therefore, the cartridge positioning portion 50a does not rub against the cartridge catching portion 92a of the main assembly, which is formed of a thin sheet of steel or the like. Therefore, the problem that the cartridge positioning portion 50a is shaved by the cartridge catching portion 92a is prevented.

As the cartridge 7 is inserted even further, the cartridge catching portion 93c is disengaged from the pushing portion 50c, and therefore, the upwardly pulling portion 93 gradually returns to the upwardly pulling position from the retreat. Then, the cartridge 7 is inserted far enough for the contacting surface 50i, which is for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 7, to come into contact with the lateral plate 82, that is, the rear lateral plate of the main assembly, the upwardly pulling portion 93b comes into contact with the cartridge catching portion 50b, as shown in FIGS. 10(c) and 11(c), causing the cartridge 7 to be pressed (pressing position) in the direction indicated by an arrow mark K (upwardly pulling direction in FIG. 11). During this process, the cartridge positioning portion 50a of the cartridge 7 bumps into the cartridge catching portion 92a of the frontal lateral plate 92 of the main assembly, correctly positioning thereby the cartridge 7 in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. Also during this process, the cartridge movement regulating portion 96 of the main assembly becomes disengaged from the contacting surface 50h; a preset amount of gap is created between the cartridge movement regulating portion 96 and the recessed surface 50g. At the same time, the cartridge catching portion 93c moves past the pushing portion 50c; a preset amount of gap is created between the cartridge catching portion 93c and the recessed surface 50j.

As described above, the cartridge pressing mechanism is structured so that the upwardly pulling member 93 is enabled to move into the standby position, upwardly pulling (pressing) position, and retreat. More specifically, in terms of the top to bottom direction, the standby position, upwardly pulling (pressing) position, and retreat are located in the listed order. Therefore, the upwardly pulling member 93 applies to the cartridge 7 a sufficient amount of pressure for pulling up the cartridge 7.

When removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, the cartridge mounting operation described above is to be carried out in reverse. The upward force which the cartridge 7 receives from the upwardly pulling member 93 is removed by the pushing portion 50c, which is more distant from the axial line of the hole 93a (rotational axis of pulling member 93) than the upward force catching portion 50b, as it is during the mounting of the cartridge 7. Therefore, the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove the cartridge 7 in this embodiment is significantly smaller than the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove a cartridge 7 in accordance with the prior art, as the amount of the force necessary for the operation to mount the cartridge 7 in this embodiment is significantly smaller than the amount of force necessary for the operation to mount a cartridge in accordance with the prior art.

Incidentally, whether mounting the cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100a, or removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, it is necessary to move the upwardly pulling member 93 in the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. In this embodiment, however, the projection 93d of the pressure catching portion 93c is provided with the gently slanted surfaces, which are on the upstream and downstream sides, one for one, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. Further, the projection 50d of the pushing portion 50c is provided with gently slanted surfaces, which are on the upstream and downstream, one for one, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. Thus, when the cartridge 7 is mounted, the slanted surface 50e of the pushing portion 50c comes into contact with the slanted surface 93e of the pressure catching portion 93c, whereas when the cartridge 7 is removed, the slanted surface 50f of the pushing portion 50c comes into contact with the slanted surface 93f of the pressure catching portion 93c. It is under this condition that the movement of the upwardly pulling member 93 in the direction of the arrow mark Y begins. In other words, the cartridge pressing mechanism in this embodiment is structured so that the slanted surfaces of the cartridge 7 remain in contact with the slanted surfaces of the main assembly 100a while the upwardly pulling member 93 moves. Therefore, the cartridge 7 smoothly moves into the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted, and also, smoothly comes out of the main assembly when the cartridge 7 is removed.

Incidentally, when the cartridge 7 is mounted or removed, the operation of the cartridge pressing mechanism in this embodiment occurs on the leading and trailing end sides, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, roughly at the same time. Further, the direction in which the pressing member 83, that is, the rear pressing member, is rotated is opposite from the direction in which the pressing member 93 (upwardly pulling member), that is, the front pressing member, is rotated.

To describe in more detail, referring to FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), on the leading end side in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction, the axial line of the hole 83a is on the left side of Line L, which coincides with the axial line of the photosensitive drum 1 and extends in the direction parallel to the direction in which the cartridge 7 is moved to be correctly positioned, and the pressure catching portion 83c is on the right side of Line L. On the other hand, on the trailing end side, the axial line of the hole 93a is on the right-hand side of the abovementioned Line L, and the pressure catching portion 93c is on the left-hand side of Line L; the positional relationship between the hole and pressure catching portion of the pressing portion on the leading end side is opposite to that on the trailing end side.

That is, the pressing member 83, which is on the rear side of the main assembly, is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark M when it is moved into the retreat, whereas the upwardly pulling member 93, which is on the front side of the main assembly, is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark N when it is moved into the retreat. Therefore, the loads from the pressing members 83 and 93, that is, the pressing members on the rear and front sides of the main assembly, to which the pushing portions 40c and 50c are subjected when the cartridge 7 is mounted or removed, act in the directions indicated by arrow marks P1 and P2, respectively, in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(c). The angles of the directions P1 and P2 of these loads are preset relative to Line L, which extends in the direction in which the cartridge is pushed up. Further, the abovementioned angles are roughly symmetrical with reference to Line L, which extends in the direction parallel to the directions P1 and P2 of the load, that is, the direction in which the cartridge 7 is upwardly pushed, as shown in FIG. 12 (c0. Therefore, when the cartridge 7 is mounted or removed, its remains stable in attitude, being therefore significantly better in operability than a cartridge in accordance with the prior art.

(Structural Arrangement for Preventing Shaving of Cartridge Positioning Portion of Cartridge)

The cartridge 7 in this embodiment is prevented from being shaved across its cartridge positioning portion when it is mounted into, or removed from, the main assembly 100a. This embodiment can reduce the problem that when the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly 100a, the cartridge positioning first and second portions (portions 40a and 50a) of the cartridge 7 rub against the corresponding portions (members) of the main assembly 100a. Further, this embodiment can reduce the problem that when the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly 100a, the abovementioned cartridge positioning first and second portions are placed in contact with the corresponding portions (members) of the main assembly 100a.

That is, as described above, the bearings 40 and 50, that is, the bearings on the leading and trailing end sides, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, are provided with the contacting portions 40h and 50h, which protrude upward beyond the cartridge positioning portions 40a and 50a, which also are the portions of their peripheral surfaces. These contacting portions 40h and 50h are flat across the top surface, and positioned on one side of the cartridge positioning portion of the cartridge 7, and the other, respectively.

As the cartridge 7 is inserted into the main assembly 100a structured as described above, the cartridge 7 is subjected to the upward force, that is, the reactive force generated as the pressing member 83, that is, the cartridge pressing rear member, and the upwardly pulling member 93, that is, the cartridge pressing front member, are pushed downward into their retreats. During this process, the contacting portion 40h (surface) comes into contact with the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge contacting first portion of the main assembly, and the contacting portion 50h (surface) comes into contact with the cartridge movement regulating portion 96, that is, the cartridge contacting second portion of the main assembly. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is prevented from moving upward.

Here, the cartridge pressing mechanism is structured so that the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge movement regulating portion of the main assembly, which is on the rear side of the main assembly, and the contacting portion 40h (surface) remain in contact with each other until immediately before the cartridge positioning portion 40a is correctly positioned by coming into contact with the cartridge catching portion 82a. Similarly, the cartridge movement regulating portion 96, that is, the cartridge movement regulating portion of the main assembly, which is on the front side of the main assembly, and the contacting portion 50h (surface) remain in contact with each other until immediately before the cartridge positioning portion 50a is correctly positioned by coming into contact with the cartridge catching portion 92a.

Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, more specifically, from the moment the cartridge 7 begins to receive the upward force from the pressing member 83 and upwardly pulling member 93 until immediately before the cartridge 7 is correctly positioned, the cartridge movement regulating portions 86 and 96, that is, the cartridge regulating portions of the main assembly, which is formed of resin, and the cartridge contacting surfaces 40h and 50h, slide on the cartridge movement regulating portions 86 and 96, respectively, and therefore, the cartridge positioning portions 40a and 50a, which are on the rear and front sides, do not rub against the cartridge catching portions 82a and 92a of the main assembly, which are formed of a thin sheet of steel or the like. Therefore, the problem that the cartridge positioning portions 40a and 50a are shaved by the cartridge catching portions 82a and 92a is prevented.

As described above, the cartridge pressing mechanism is structured so that the cartridge 7 is mounted or removed while cancelling the cartridge pressing force by the pressure applied to the point of the pressing member, which is farther from the portion of the pressing member, by which the pressing member presses on the cartridge 7. Therefore, the amount of force necessary to mount or remove the cartridge 7 is sufficiently small relative to the amount of force (pressure) which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member. Thus, the amount of force required to mount the cartridge 7, that is, the cartridge in this embodiment, into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment, or remove the cartridge 7 from the image forming apparatus in this embodiment, is significantly smaller than that required to mount a cartridge in accordance with the prior art into the main assembly of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the prior art, or removing the cartridge in accordance with the prior art from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the prior art. In other words, the present invention can provide a cartridge and an image forming apparatus, which are significantly better in operability in terms of the mounting of the cartridge.

Further, when mounting the cartridge 7 into the main assembly 100a, or removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, the cartridge positioning members are prevented from being shaved. Therefore, it is ensured that the cartridge 7 is correctly positioned.

Incidentally, the structure of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment is such that the cartridges are juxtaposed side by side (in parallel) in a horizontal straight row, and also, that the intermediary transfer unit is disposed on the top side of the cartridges so that the cartridges can be pressed upward from below by the pressing members. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in terms of image forming apparatus structure. For example, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus structured so that its intermediary transfer unit is on the under side of the cartridges, and the cartridges are pressed downward from above by the pressing member (pressuring member). In the case of such a structural arrangement, the photosensitive drum 1 is placed in contact with the intermediary transfer belt 5 by applying downward pressure to the cartridge 7.

In the case of an image forming apparatus, such as the one in this embodiment, which is structured so that the cartridges are pressed from below, the amount of force necessary to press a cartridge to correctly position the cartridge needs to be set in consideration of the weight of the cartridge itself. Therefore, it must be greater than the amount of force necessary to press a cartridge in an image forming apparatus structured so that the cartridge is pressed from above, and so is the amount of force necessary to push down the pressing member. Thus, the effects of the present invention can be further enhanced by structuring the image forming apparatus so that the cartridge can be mounted or removed while cancelling the pressure applied to the cartridge by the cartridge pressing portion of the cartridge pressing member, by the portion of the cartridge pressing member, which is farther from the rotational axis of the cartridge pressing member than the cartridge pressing portion of the cartridge pressing member.

Also in this embodiment, it is on both the leading and trailing end sides of the cartridge, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, that the force from the cartridge pressing member (inclusive of upwardly pulling member) is cancelled by the portion of the cartridge pressing member, which is farther from the axial line the pressing member than the cartridge pressing portion of the pressing member while the cartridge is mounted or removed. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in scope in terms of the structure of an image forming apparatus. For example, an image forming apparatus may be structured so that only one end of the image forming apparatus, that is, either the leading or trailing end in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, is provided with the cartridge pressing member. However, an image forming apparatus having the pressing member on both the leading and trailing end in terms of the cartridge mounting direction is smaller in the total amount of force necessary to mount or remove the cartridge than an image forming apparatus having the cartridge pressing member on only the leading or trailing end in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. Also as described above, by structuring an image forming apparatus so that the cartridge pressing member on the rear side, and the cartridge pressing member (cartridge pulling member) on the front side, are symmetrical with respect to the direction in which the load from the pressing member is pushed up, it is possible to keep the cartridge 7 stable in attitude when mounting or removing the cartridge 7, enhancing further the effects of this embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment 2

Next, referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. By the way, this embodiment is the same in the basic structure of an image forming apparatus as the first embodiment described above. Therefore, this embodiment will be described regarding only the structural features different from those in the first embodiment to avoid the repetition of the same description. Further, the members, portions, etc., of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment, which are the same in function as those in the first embodiment described above, are given the same referential symbols.

FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the cartridge in this embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the cartridge positioning member and cartridge pressing member on the rear side of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, showing their structures.

The image forming apparatus in the first embodiment was structured so that the bearing of the cartridge 7, which is on the leading end, in terms of the direction in which the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, is provided with the pressing member 83 having the pushing portion 83c for pushing down the cartridge 7. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus structured so that the pushing portion for pushing down the pressing member is a part of the development unit, will be described.

Referring to FIG. 12, it is the development unit 4 that is provided with a pressing member pushing portion 140c, which is for moving the pressing member into its retreat. The pushing portion 140c protrudes downstream from the downstream end of the cartridge 7 in terms of the cartridge mounting direction. The end portion of the pushing portion 140c is provided with a projection 140d, which projects downward. The projection 140d is provided with two surfaces 140e and 140f, which are gently slanted so that the intersection of the two surfaces is the peak of the projection 140d. In terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction, the pushing portion 140c is on the opposite side of the pressure catching portion 40b from the axial line of the hole 183a (FIG. 14) of the cartridge pressing member 183 (pressure applying member), which will be described later. Further, the pushing portion 140c is located farther from the axial line of the hole 183a than the pressure catching portion 40b.

Referring to FIG. 14, as for the main assembly 100a, it is provided with the cartridge pressing member 183, which is for pressing the cartridge 7 toward the cartridge catching portion 82a (pressure catching portion). The pressing member 183 is located below the cartridge catching portion 82a. The pressing member 183 is attached to the lateral plate 82, that is, the lateral plate of the main assembly on the rear side; the shaft 84 solid attached to the lateral plate 82 is put through the hole 183a of the pressing member 183 so that the pivotal axis of the pressing member 183 coincides with the axial line of the hole 183a. Further, the pressing member 183 is rotatably attached to the lateral plate 82 so that it is rotatably movable to the cartridge pressing position, in which it presses the cartridge 7 upon the cartridge catching portion 82a, and the retreat into which it is moved to remove the pressure which it applies to the cartridge 7.

Further, the pressing member 183 is provided with a pressing portion 183b, which presses on the cartridge 7 when the pressing member 183 is in the pressing position. The pressing portion 183b corresponds in position to the pressure catching portion 40b of the cartridge 7. The pressing member 183 is also provided with a pressure catching portion 183c, which is for moving the pressing member 183 into the retreat. The pressure catching portion 183c corresponds in position to the pushing portion 140c of the cartridge 7.

The pressure catching portion 183c is provided with an upward projection 183d, which has two surfaces 183e and 183f. The surfaces 183e and 183f are on the downstream and upstream sides, respectively, in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, and are gently slanted so that their intersection is the peak of the projection 183d.

In terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction, the pressure catching portion 183c is on the opposite side of the pressing portion 183b from the axial line of the hole 183a. Further, the pressure catching portion 183c is located farther from the axial line of the hole 183a than the pressing portion 183b.

Next, the movement of the components of the cartridge pressing mechanism in this embodiment, which occur when the cartridge 7 is mounted into the image forming apparatus 100, will be described. FIG. 16 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism, as seen from the left side (as seen from front side of image forming apparatus) of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and shows the operation of the cartridge pressing member, which occurs when the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly 100. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the cartridge pressing rear mechanism, as seen from the leading end side of the cartridge 7 in terms of the cartridge mounting direction, and shows the operation of the pressing member.

The cartridge 7 is mounted in the direction indicated by an arrow mark F shown in FIG. 16(a). Referring to FIGS. 16(a) and 17(a), as the cartridge 7 is inserted, the slanted surface 140e of the pushing portion 140c of the development unit 4 comes into contact with the slanted surface 183e of the cartridge catching portion 183c (standby position). Then, as the cartridge 7 is inserted further, the pressing member 183 is gradually pushed down, causing the projection 140d of the pushing portion 140c to come into contact with the projection 183d of the cartridge catching portion 183c, as shown in FIG. 16(b). Consequently, the pressing member 183 retreats in the direction indicated by an arrow mark T (position in retreat). More specifically, the pressing member 183 retreats into the position (position in retreat) in which its pressing portion 183b does not contact the pressure catching portion 140b of the cartridge 7, as shown in FIG. 17(b). Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, the pressure catching portion 140b is not subjected to any pressure. The pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 183 when it is mounted is cancelled by the pushing portion 140c, which is located further from the rotational axis of the pressing member 183, which coincides with the axial line of the hole 183a. That is, the amount of force necessary to push down the pressing member 183 against the force which acts to upwardly pushing the cartridge 7 is reduced by the ratio between the distance from the axial line of the hole 183a to the pressure catching portion 140b (pushing portion 183b) and the distance from the axial line of the hole 183a to the pushing portion 140c (pressure catching portion 183c). Therefore, the amount of load to which the cartridge 7 is subjected when it is mounted is substantially smaller than the amount of pressure which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 183; the amount of force required to mount the cartridge 7 is substantially smaller than the amount of the pressure required to mount a cartridge (7) in accordance with the prior art.

Further, when the cartridge 7 is mounted, the cartridge 7 is subjected to upward force, that is, the reactive force generated as the pressing member 183 is pushed down into its retreat. However, the contacting surface 40h comes into contact with the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge contacting first portion of the main assembly. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is prevented from being moved upward. Here, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly and the main assembly contacting second surface 40h of the cartridge 7 are positioned so that they remain in contact with each other until immediately before the cartridge positioning portion 40 (a pressure catching portion) is correctly positioned by coming into contact with the cartridge catching portion 82a. Therefore, while the cartridge 7 is mounted, more specifically, from the moment the cartridge 7 begins to receive the upward pressure from the pressing member 183 until immediately before the cartridge 7 is correctly positioned, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86, that is, the cartridge movement regulating portion of the main assembly, which is formed of resin, and the contacting surface 40h, slide on each other, and the pressure catching portion 40a (cartridge positioning portion of cartridge) does not rub against the cartridge catching portion 82a of the main assembly, which is formed of a thin sheet of steel or the like. Therefore, the problem that the cartridge positioning portion 40a is shaved by the cartridge catching portion 82a is prevented.

As the cartridge is inserted even further, the cartridge catching portion 183c is disengaged from the pushing portion 140c, and therefore, the pressing member 183 gradually returns to the pressing position from the retreat. Then, the cartridge 7 is inserted far enough for the contacting surface 40i, which is for correctly positioning the cartridge 7 in terms of the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 7, to come into contact with the lateral plate 82, that is, the rear lateral plate of the main assembly, the pressing portion 183b comes into contact with the pressure catching portion 40b, as shown in FIGS. 16(c) and 17(c), causing the cartridge 7 to be pressed (pressing position) in the direction indicated by an arrow mark S (pressing direction). During this process, the cartridge positioning portion 40a of the cartridge 7 bumps into the cartridge catching portion 82a of the rear lateral plate 82 of the main assembly, correctly positioning thereby the cartridge 7 in terms of the direction perpendicular to the cartridge mounting direction. Also during this process, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly becomes disengaged from the second contacting surface 40h; a preset amount of gap is provided between the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 and the surface 40g (recessed surface). At the same time, the cartridge catching portion 183c moves past the pushing portion 140c; a preset amount of gap is provided between the cartridge catching portion 183c and the recessed surface 140j.

Also in this embodiment, the pressing member 183 is enabled to apply a sufficient amount of pressure to the cartridge 7.

When removing the cartridge 7 from the main assembly 100a, the cartridge mounting operation described above is to be carried out in reverse. The upward force which the cartridge 7 receives from the pressing member 183 is cancelled by the pushing portion 140c, which is located farther from the axial line of the hole 183a, as it is during the mounting of the cartridge 7. Therefore, the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove the cartridge 7 in this embodiment is significantly smaller than the amount of force necessary for the operation to remove a cartridge 7 in accordance with the prior art, as the amount of the force necessary for the operation to mount the cartridge 7 in this embodiment is significantly smaller than the amount of force necessary for the operation to mount a cartridge in accordance with the prior art.

Further, as the cartridge catching portion 82a of the main assembly becomes disengaged from the pressure catching portion 40a (cartridge positioning portion of cartridge), the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly comes into contact with the second contacting surface 40h. Further, even during the removal of the cartridge 7, the cartridge movement regulating portion 86 of the main assembly, which is formed of resin, and the second contacting surface 40h, slide against each other, preventing thereby the pressure catching portion 40a from rubbing against the cartridge catching portion 82a of the lateral plate of the main assembly, as long as the cartridge 7 is under the upward force applied by the pressing member 183. Therefore, the problem that the pressure catching portion 40a (cartridge positioning portion of cartridge) is shaved by the cartridge catching portion 82a as it rubs against the cartridge catching portion 82a is prevented.

In this embodiment, only the portion of the development unit 4, which corresponds in position to the rear end side of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, is provided with the pushing portion. However, it may be only the front end of the development unit that is provided with the pushing portion. The effects of providing only the front end of the development unit with the pushing portion are the same as that achievable by providing only the rear end of the development unit with the pushing portion.

Embodiment 3

Next, referring to FIGS. 18-20, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. By the way, this embodiment is the same in the basic structure of an image forming apparatus as the first embodiment described above. Therefore, this embodiment will be described regarding only the structural features different from those in the first embodiment to avoid repetition of the same description. Further, the members, portions, etc., of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment, which are the same in function as those in the first embodiment described above, are given the same referential symbols.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1 is grounded through the upwardly pulling portion 93 (pressure applying portion). Next, referring to FIGS. 18-20, the portions of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment, which are for grounding the photosensitive drum 1, will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 18(a)-18(c), a drum grounding member 98 is attached to the upwardly pulling portion 93. As will be evident from the drawing, the drum grounding member 93 is in the form of a tortional coil spring. Referring to FIG. 18(b), this drum grounding member 98 has a contact portion 98b, which is rotatable in the direction indicated by an arrow mark about a rotational axle 98a. The contact portion 98b is a portion of the drum grounding member 93, which makes contact with a grounding plate 50i of the cartridge 7, which will be described later.

When the cartridge 7 is out of the image forming apparatus, the drum grounding member 98 is in its standby position, in which is in contact with the stopper portion 93g of the upwardly pulling portion 93; as the cartridge 7 is removed from the image forming apparatus, the drum grounding member 98 rotates backward until it comes into contact with the stopper portion 93g. Further, the contact portion 98c of the drum grounding member 98 remains always in contact with the tension spring 95. When the cartridge 7 is in its preset image forming position, the contact portion 98c is under the roughly 25 N of contact pressure for keeping the cartridge 7 in contact with the cartridge catching portion 92a.

The tension spring 95 is anchored to the tension spring anchoring hook 97 with which the lateral plate 92 of the main assembly is provided. As described above, as the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly, the cartridge 7 comes into contact with the cartridge catching portions 92a1 and 92a2, being thereby correctly positioned. As for the tension spring 95, as the cartridge 7 is mounted into the main assembly, it comes into contact with the drum grounding member 98, establishing electrical connection between the lateral plate 92 of the main assembly and the drum grounding member 98. Therefore, it is ensured that the drum grounding member 98 is grounded.

The contact portion 98b of the drum grounding member 98 is on the downstream side of the rotational axis of the drum grounding member 98, that is, the axial line of the hole 98a of the drum grounding member 98, in terms of the abovementioned advancement direction. It rotates while being regulated by the surfaces 93d1 and 93d2. Therefore, the problem that when the cartridge 7 is inserted, the cartridge 7 hangs up and/or is deformed, or the like problems, are prevented. Therefore, it is ensured that the photosensitive drum 1 is grounded to the lateral plate 92 of the main assembly. Further, the drum grounding member 98 is positioned so that it is on the top side of the grounding plate 50i. This arrangement ensures that the contact pressure between the drum grounding member 98 and the grounding plate 50i remains stable regardless of the positional accuracy of the cartridge 7 in terms of its lengthwise direction.

FIG. 19 shows the structure of the cartridge grounding portion of the cartridge 7. The grounding plate 50i is attached to the bearing 50 so that it is placed below the upwardly pulling force catching 50b. The grounding plate 50i is electrically connected to the photosensitive drum 1 through a metallic shaft 50j, and a grounding plate 50k which is in contact with the internal surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

Next, the movement of the drum grounding member 98, which occurs during the mounting of the cartridge 7, will be described.

Referring to FIG. 20(a), until the cartridge 7 is mounted, the drum grounding member 98 remains on standby; it remains in contact with the stopper portion 93g of the upwardly pulling member. Next, referring to FIG. 20(b), as the upwardly pulling member 93 begins to be rotated into its retreat by the mounting of the cartridge 7 into the main assembly, the drum grounding member 98 begins to be rotated by the rotation of the upwardly pulling member 93 about the axial line of the hole 93a. Therefore, the contact portion 98b of the drum grounding member 98 comes into contact with the bearing 50 of the cartridge 7, causing thereby the drum grounding member 98 (contact portion 98b) to rotate in the direction indicated by an arrow mark in the drawing. Then, as the cartridge 7 is further inserted so that it moves into its designated position in the main assembly, the drum grounding member 98 comes into contact with the grounding plate 50i of the cartridge 7, by the contact portion 98b, as shown in FIG. 20(c).

The drum grounding member 98 is electrically in contact with the lateral plate 92 of the main assembly, and the grounding plate 50i of the cartridge 7 is electrically in contact with the photosensitive drum 1, as described above.

As described above, as the cartridge 7 is mounted, the drum grounding member 98, and the grounding plate 50i with which cartridge 7 is provided, come into contact with each other. As a result, electrical connection is established between the photosensitive drum 1 and the lateral plate 92 of the main assembly, grounding thereby the photosensitive drum 1.

When the cartridge 7 is removed, the operation carried out when the cartridge 7 is mounted is carried out in reverse. That is, the drum grounding member 98 rotates until its contact portion 98b comes into contact with stopper 93g. Then, the drum grounding member 98 remains in the abovementioned standby position; it remains in contact with the stopper 93g, by its contact portion 98b.

The amount of the contact pressure between the contact portion 98b of the drum grounding member 98 and the grounding plate 50i of the cartridge 7 is roughly 2.5 N. In other words, while the drum grounding member 98 is in contact with the grounding plate 50i, roughly 2.5 N of downward pressure, which is opposite in direction to the direction in which the cartridge 7 is pushed. The reactive force generated by the force applied to the cartridge 7 to push down the cartridge 7 is caught by the reactive force catching portion 93h with which the upwardly pulling member 93 is provided (FIG. 18(a)).

Since the drum grounding member 98 and the components related thereto are structured as described above, the reactive force which the drum grounding member 98 receives from the grounding plate 50j can be utilized to upwardly push the upwardly pulling member 93. Thus, the reactive force upwardly pushes the cartridge 7 toward the cartridge catching portions 92a, through the upwardly pulling member 93, cancelling thereby the downward force applied to the cartridge 7 by the drum grounding member 98. Therefore, it is unnecessary to make the tension spring 95 strong enough to match the reactive force from the grounding plate 50i. In other words, the amount of pressure which the tension spring 95 generates has only to be large enough to ensure that the cartridge 7 is placed, and remains, in contact with the cartridge catching portions 92a1 and 92a2. Thus, the cartridge 7 is significantly smaller in the amount of force necessary to mount or remove it, being therefore better in operability, than a cartridge in accordance with the prior art.

Since the drum grounding member 98 is attached to the upwardly pulling member 93 as described above, the cartridge 7 is not directly subjected to the reactive force attributable to the mounting of the cartridge 7, although it is subjected to frictional force. Therefore, the cartridge 7 is significantly smaller in the amount of force necessary to mount or remove it, being therefore better in operability, than a cartridge in accordance with the prior art.

Further, the electrical connection is complete within the upwardly pulling member 93. Therefore, even if the cartridge 7 slightly changes in position, the contact pressure between the drum grounding member 98 and grounding plate 50i remains stable, ensuring thereby that as the cartridge 7 is mounted into the image forming apparatus 100, the cartridge 7 becomes, and remains, electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 100.

Further, the drum grounding member 98 is placed on the top side of the grounding plate 50i. Therefore, the contact pressure between the two remains stable regardless of the positional accuracy of the cartridge 7 in terms of its lengthwise direction.

Incidentally, this embodiment was described above with reference to the grounding of the photosensitive drum 1. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in scope. That is, the application of the present invention is not limited to the above described case in which the upwardly pulling member (which is for upwardly pulling cartridge) is used to establish electrical connection between the photosensitive drum and main assembly to ground the photosensitive drum. For example, the present invention is also applicable to the case in which the upwardly pulling member is utilized to establish electrical connection to provide the cartridge 7 with charge bias, development bias, etc.

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 purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 331309/2006 filed Dec. 8, 2006, and 266398/2007 filed Oct. 12, 2007, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
2006-331309	Dec 2006	JP	national
2007-266398	Oct 2007	JP	national

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	11925239	Oct 2007	US
Child	13424826		US

PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

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