JP3937802B2 - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the process cartridge.
[0002]
Here, examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile apparatus, and an electrophotographic word processor.
[0003]
The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least the developing means (developer carrying member) and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
[0004]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is formed into an electrophotographic image. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body is employed.
[0005]
According to this type of process cartridge system, the user can perform maintenance of the apparatus by himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
[0006]
This type of conventional process cartridge includes, for example, a photoreceptor unit and a developing device unit. The photosensitive unit includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter also simply referred to as a photosensitive drum) that forms an electrostatic latent image, a charging roller that is a charging unit for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive layer, and a recording medium. Cleaning means is disposed for scraping off the residual developer adhering to the photosensitive drum without being transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum and storing it in the removed developer container.
[0007]
Further, the developing device unit includes a developer container for containing a developer, and a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum to form a visible image. A roller, a developing blade that imparts triboelectric charge to the developer and forms a developer layer on the surface of the developing roller, a blowout prevention sheet that prevents developer leakage in the radial direction of the developing roller, and the like are disposed. The developing roller and the developing blade are held by a developing device frame, and the developing device frame is coupled to a developer container to constitute a developing device unit.
[0008]
The developing device unit and the photoconductor unit are rotatably coupled by an engaging pin, and a biasing spring is provided between the developing device unit and the photoconductor unit.
[0009]
Further, the drum gear provided at the end of the photosensitive drum is driven to rotate by rotating the photosensitive drum through a driving force transmitted through a driving gear disposed in the image forming apparatus. The drum gear rotationally drives a developing roller gear provided coaxially with the developing roller. The drive connection to the developer feeding member that feeds the developer in the developer container toward the developing roller is coaxial with the developer feeding member by decelerating the driving force of the developing roller gear via an intermediate gear or the like. The provided developer feed gear is driven to rotate. The driving force from the developer feeding gear rotates and drives the developer stirring gear provided coaxially with the developer stirring member via an intermediate gear or the like.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional developing device described above, the amount of developer in the developer accommodating portion fluctuates due to developer consumption associated with image formation, so that the pressure for pressing the developing roller as the developer carrying member against the photosensitive drum is increased. fluctuate. Along with this, there is a problem that the driving torque when the drum gear and the developing roller gear mesh with each other fluctuates.
[0011]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the unsolved problems of the prior art, and is a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image that can stabilize the pressing force of the developer carrier to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of smoothly transmitting a driving force and preventing an increase in driving torque.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a process cartridge of the present invention develops an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member in a process cartridge that is detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. A developer carrying member, a developer containing portion for containing the developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developer carrying member, and a developer feeding means for conveying the developer to the developer carrying member. A first frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a second frame that has the developer accommodating portion, and supports the developer carrier and moves relative to the second frame. A movable moving frame, a biasing member for pressing the developer carrying member supported by the moving frame to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and Electrophotographic image formation In order to receive a driving force from the apparatus main body and transmit the driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first driving force transmitting member provided in a first frame and a developer feeding means Said In order to transmit the driving force, a second driving force transmission member provided on the second frame and the driving force received from the first driving force transmission member to the developing carrier. Said In order to transmit the driving force, the moving frame body driving force transmission member provided in the moving frame body, Moving frame From the driving force transmission member Second A swing driving force transmitting member that transmits the driving force to the driving force transmitting member; and a swing driving force transmitting member support member that supports the swing driving force transmitting member. The member supporting member is swingably supported.
[0014]
In the process cartridge of the present invention, Further, the process cartridge includes a third frame that joins the first frame and the second frame at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the first frame and the second frame. Have a body, The swing driving force transmission member support member is the third frame body. In It is preferably supported.
[0015]
In the process cartridge of the present invention, the first driving force transmission member is connected to the apparatus main body. Said When the driving force is transmitted, it is preferable that the support member positioning portion provided on the swing driving force transmitting member support member abuts on the moving frame body positioning portion provided on the moving frame body, or From the apparatus main body to the first driving force transmission member Said When the driving force is transmitted, it is preferable that the support member positioning portion provided on the swing driving force transmitting member support member abuts on the second frame body positioning portion provided on the second frame body.
[0016]
In the process cartridge of the present invention, the swing driving force transmission member and the movable frame body driving force transmission member are gears, and the movable frame body positioning portion is the movable frame body. Driving force transmission member Or the moving frame provided on the member Driving force transmission member The swing driving force transmission member and the second frame body driving force transmission member are gears, and the second frame positioning portion is the second frame body. Driving force transmission member Or the second frame body Driving force transmission member It is preferably a shaft that supports
[0017]
In the process cartridge according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the second driving force transmission member transmits a driving force to a developer stirring unit that circulates the developer, and the moving frame body includes the first or first moving frame. It is preferable that the driving side is swingably held with respect to the frame 2 and the non-driving side is slidable.
[0019]
[Action]
According to the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention, the movable frame that supports the developer carrier is movably supported, and the developer carrier is pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the biasing member. To do. As a result, the developer carrying member can be stably pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member even if the amount of the developer in the developer accommodating portion varies.
[0020]
In order to drive the developer feeding means, a second driving force transmitting member provided on the second frame and a swing driving force transmitting member for transmitting driving force to the movable frame are provided. Further, by supporting the swing driving force transmission member supporting member that supports the swing driving force transmitting member so as to be swingable, it is possible to smoothly transmit the driving force and prevent an increase in driving torque.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the code | symbol in an explanatory note is for referring drawings, and does not limit a structure.
[0022]
First, an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge constructed according to the present invention is detachably mounted will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium such as recording paper, an OHP sheet, or a cloth using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like are included. In this embodiment, an electrophotographic laser beam printer will be described as an example.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, the surface of a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter also simply referred to as a photosensitive drum) 10 is uniformly charged by a charging roller 11 serving as charging means. Laser beam light corresponding to image information is irradiated to the photosensitive drum 10 from the optical means 1 having a laser diode, a polygon mirror, a lens, and a reflection mirror, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 10. To do. Here, a developer image (visible image) is formed by developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer using a developing device.
[0024]
On the other hand, in synchronization with the formation of the developer image, the recording medium 4 set in the paper feed cassette 6a is reversely conveyed by the pickup roller 6b, the conveyance roller pairs 6c and 6d, and the registration roller pair 6e. Next, it passes through a nip formed by the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer roller 3 as transfer means to which a constant voltage is applied. At this time, the developer image developed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the recording medium 4.
[0025]
The recording medium 4 to which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 by the conveyance guide 6f. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5c and a fixing roller 5b incorporating a heater 5a. Then, heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium 4 passing through the nip portion to fix the transferred developer image. Thereafter, the recording medium 4 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 6 i and discharged to the discharge tray 7.
[0026]
The process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the photosensitive unit B (first frame) of the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum 10 that forms an electrostatic latent image, a charging roller 11 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive layer, and a recording medium 4. Cleaning means 14 is disposed for scraping off the residual developer adhering to the photosensitive drum 10 without being transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and storing it in the removed developer container 12.
[0027]
Further, the developing device unit A (second frame) includes a developer storage container (developer storage portion) 21 that stores a developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a photosensitive drum 10. A developing roller (developing carrier) 20 for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed thereon to form a visible image, and applying a triboelectric charge to the developer, developing on the surface of the developing roller 20 A developing blade 22 for forming the agent layer, a blowout prevention sheet 25 for preventing the developer leakage in the radial direction of the developing roller 20, and the like are disposed. Here, the developing roller 20 and the developing blade 22 are held by a moving frame body 40 including a frame body 41 and a swinging frame body 42. The moving frame 40 is assembled to a developing device frame 50 fixed to the developer container 21 through an engaging pin 80 so as to be movable. These configurations will be described later.
[0028]
The developing device unit A and the photosensitive unit B are integrated by a side plate (third frame) 90 and a side plate (fourth frame) 91 (see FIG. 12) provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. Are combined.
[0029]
1 and 2, the photosensitive drum 10 is driven to rotate clockwise. A constant voltage is applied to the charging roller 11, and when the photosensitive drum 10 comes into contact, the surface of the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 10 in contact with the charging roller 11 is uniformly charged. Next, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10 by irradiating the photosensitive drum 10 with the laser beam L according to the image information from the optical unit 1 through the exposure opening 2. Thereafter, a developer image (visible image) is formed on the photosensitive drum 10 by the developing means.
[0030]
Here, the developing means feeds the developer in the developer container 21 toward the developing roller 20 by the rotation of the developer feeding member (developer feeding means) 23. Then, the developing roller 20 incorporating the fixed magnet 28 is rotated, and a developer layer imparted with triboelectric charge by the developing blade 22 is formed on the surface of the developing roller 20. The developing roller 20 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by a biasing spring (biasing means) 32 (see FIG. 7) through a spacer roller 26 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4) while maintaining a certain clearance. . Then, the developer layer formed on the surface is supplied to the development area of the photosensitive drum 10, and the developer is transferred to the photosensitive drum 10 according to the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a developer image. Here, the developing blade 22 defines the amount of developer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 20 and imparts triboelectric charge. A developer agitating member (developer agitating means) 24 that circulates the developer in the developing chamber is rotatably mounted near the developing roller 20.
[0031]
Then, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developer image is applied to a transfer roller 3 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the recording medium 4. Thereafter, the residual developer on the photosensitive drum 10 is removed by the cleaning unit 14. Here, the cleaning means 14 scrapes off the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 by an elastic cleaning blade 14 a provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 and collects it in the removed developer container 12.
[0032]
Next, the moving frame and the developing device frame that hold the developing roller constituting the developing device, and their coupling relationship will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, 6, and 7 to 9. FIG.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the moving frame body 40 includes a frame body 41, a swinging frame body 42, and a slide frame body 43. Each member is fixed integrally. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the cylindrical developing roller 20 has flange members 20 a and 20 b press-fitted at both ends, and rotates around the swing frame body 42 and the slide frame body 43 via bearings 27 and 27, respectively. It is supported movably. A fixed magnet 28 is disposed on the inner diameter portion of the developing roller 20. Further, spacer rollers 26 having a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the developing roller 20 by a specified gap are slidably provided at both ends of the developing roller 20 so as to be substantially coaxial with the developing roller 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the developing blade 22 for regulating the developer layer thickness on the developing roller 20 is integrally formed or bonded to the developing blade sheet metal 22a. The developing blade sheet metal 22a is fixed to the frame body 41, and the tip of the developing blade 22 is in contact with the developing roller 20 (see also FIG. 2). 3 to 5, reference numeral 72 denotes a developing roller gear (moving frame driving force transmission member) provided on the flange member 20a of the developing roller 20 on the outer side of the swing frame 42. The developing roller gear 72 meshes with the drum gear 71 (first driving force transmission member) of the photosensitive drum 10 (see FIG. 14), receives the rotational driving force from the drum gear 71, and rotates the developing roller 20.
[0034]
The moving frame 40 that supports the developing roller 20 and the developing blade 22 is installed in the developing device frame 50 shown in FIG. 6, and is assembled as shown in FIG. Here, the developing device frame 50 is fixed to the developer container 21, but the developing device frame 50 may be formed integrally with the developer container 21. The swing frame body 42 of the moving frame body 40 is provided with a swing arm 46 having a swing hole 47 at the end. On the other hand, a support arm 55 extends from the developing device frame 50, and a fixing hole 56 is provided at an end thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, the swing frame 42 and the developing device frame 50 are engaged with each other by an engagement pin 80 so as to be swingable. The engagement pin 80 is press-fitted into the fixing hole 56 of the developing device frame 50, and the swing hole 47 of the swing frame 42 and the engagement pin 80 are formed to be rotatable.
[0035]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the slide frame 43 of the moving frame 40 is provided with slide planes 43a and 43b that define the slide direction in parallel on the upper and lower surfaces thereof. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, guide planes 51a and 51b having a minute clearance are provided at portions of the developing device frame 50 facing the slide planes 43a and 43b of the slide frame 43. Yes. Further, in order to position the developing device frame 50 and the moving frame 40 in the longitudinal direction, the developing device frame 50 is provided with a positioning boss 52 (see FIG. 8), and the frame 41 only determines the longitudinal direction. A positioning slot 41a (see FIGS. 5 and 8) is provided. Thus, the slide frame 43 can slide in a fixed direction with respect to the developing device frame 50 by the slide planes 43a and 43b and the guide planes 51a and 51b.
[0036]
A biasing spring 32 (only one biasing spring is shown in FIG. 7) is disposed between the moving frame 40 and the developing device frame 50. Then, the developing roller 20 held by the moving frame 40 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by the spacer roller 26 with a certain clearance by the biasing spring 32.
[0037]
Further, as another configuration of the sliding relationship between the slide frame body 43 of the moving frame body 40 and the developing device frame body 50, it can be formed as shown in FIG. In other words, slide rail convex portions 43 c and 43 d that define the sliding direction are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the slide frame body 43, and slide rail concave portions 51 c and 51 d are provided at the opposing portions of the developing device frame 50. The front end portions 43e and 43f of the slide rail convex portions 43c and 43d and the bottom surface portions 51e and 51f of the slide rail concave portions 51c and 51d serve as slide contact portions. By doing so, the areas of the slide surface and the guide surface can be reduced, and a surface with high component accuracy can be easily made. At the same time, the short width fitting portion of the rail of the slide frame 43 can be positioned in the longitudinal direction of the moving frame 40 and the developing device frame 50.
[0038]
As described above, the moving frame body 40 that supports the developing roller 20 is movably supported by the developing device unit A, and the developing roller 20 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by the urging spring 32. Even if the amount of developer in the agent storage container 21 fluctuates, the pressing force of the developing roller 20 against the photosensitive drum 10 is effective.
[0039]
Next, the configuration of the developer seal that prevents leakage of the developer between the moving frame 40 and the developing device frame 50 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 10, and 11.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 5, elastic seal members 44, 44 are provided on the inner side of the frames 42, 43 at both ends on the surface of the moving frame 40 facing the developing device frame 50, as shown in FIG. 5. Moreover, the elastic seal member 45 is being fixed to the upper long side part with the double-sided tape, respectively. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 60 denotes a magnetic seal member disposed opposite to both end portions of the developing roller 20, and the magnetic seal member 60 will be described later.
[0041]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing device frame 50 is provided with seal receiving surfaces 57 at both ends so as to correspond to the elastic seal member 44, and the upper long side portion corresponds to the elastic seal member 45. Thus, a seal receiving surface 58 is formed. When the movable frame 40 is incorporated in the developing device frame 50, the elastic seal members 44 and 45 are brought into contact with the seal receiving surfaces 57 and 58 of the developing device frame 50 and compressed as shown in FIG. Thereby, the leakage of the developer between the moving frame 40 and the developing device frame 50 is prevented. In FIG. 10, arrows s and t indicate the compression directions of the elastic seal member 44 at the short sides at both ends and the elastic seal member 45 at the upper long side, respectively. The compression direction t of the elastic seal member 45 is set to be substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving frame body 40. By doing so, the influence of the repulsive force of the elastic seal member 45 having a large compression area on the pressing force that presses the developing roller 20 against the photosensitive drum 10 can be reduced.
[0042]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the blowout prevention sheet 25 is fixed to the lower long side portion 54 of the developing device frame 50 with a double-sided tape so as to contact the developing roller 20. Thereby, the developer leakage in the radial direction below the developing roller 20 is prevented.
[0043]
Next, the developer seals at both ends of the developing roller 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The magnetic seal member 60 is disposed to face both ends of the developing roller 20 (only a part of one magnetic seal member is shown in FIG. 5). The seal member 60 includes a plurality of magnetic poles on a surface 60 a that faces the surface of the developing roller 20 with a predetermined clearance, and adsorbs the developer by a magnetic curtain between the sealing member 60 and the developing roller 20. The magnetic seal member 60 is inserted into a recess 41 b provided in the frame body 41 and is positioned by fitting a positioning pin (not shown) into the positioning hole 60 b of the magnetic seal member 60. In this way, the developing roller 20 and the magnetic seal member 60 are fixed to the same frame body 41. Therefore, even when the developing roller 20 follows the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 10 and the moving frame body 40 moves, the clearance between the developing roller 20 and the magnetic seal member 60 can be set accurately and constant. For this reason, the developer seals at both ends of the developing roller 20 by the magnetic seal member 60 can be satisfactorily configured.
[0044]
Next, the structure of the side plate that couples the developing device unit A and the photoreceptor unit B will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 12, the developing device unit A and the photosensitive unit B are coupled by side plates 90 and 91 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. As shown in FIG. 13A, one side plate 90 is provided with positioning portions 90a and 90b for attaching the developing device unit A and positioning portions 90c and 90d for attaching the photoconductor unit B. . The other side plate 91 is similarly provided with a positioning portion (not shown). Then, the developing device unit A and the photosensitive unit B are integrally coupled by fitting the positioning portions of the side plates 90 and 91 with the positioning portions provided in the units A and B, respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, one side plate 90 has a driving system (not shown) for transmitting a driving force from the developing roller 20 to the developer feeding member 23 and the developer stirring member 24. A second intermediate gear 74, a developer feed gear 76, a third intermediate gear 75, and a swing arm 77, which are second driving force transmission members), are supported. The swing arm 77 is disposed so as to be able to swing with the rotation axis of the second intermediate gear 74 as the swing center 77a, and the first intermediate gear (swing drive force transmission) is connected to the swing pin 77b on the other end side. Member) 73 is supported. Further, a long hole 90 h that restricts the swing range of the swing arm 77 is formed in the side plate 90.
[0046]
Next, drive systems such as a developing roller, a developer feeding member, and a developer stirring member in the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16 and FIG.
[0047]
First, driving of the developing roller in the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0048]
The drum gear 71 provided at the end of the photosensitive drum 20 receives a driving force from an image forming apparatus (not shown) via a driving gear 70, and rotates the photosensitive drum 10. Further, the drum gear 71 rotates and drives a developing roller gear 72 (see FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. 7) provided at the end thereof coaxially with the developing roller 20. In FIG. 14, an arrow a indicates the direction of the meshing pressure acting on the developing roller gear 72 when the driving force is transmitted from the drum gear 71 to the developing roller gear 72. An arrow b is a line connecting the swing center (engagement pin 80) of the swing frame body 42 and the application point (engagement point) of the engagement pressure acting on the developing roller gear 72. When the angle formed by the arrow a with the horizontal line is θa and the angle formed by the arrow b with the horizontal line is θb, the relationship is set so that θa ≧ θb. By doing so, the meshing pressure acting on the developing roller gear 72 acts in the direction of pressing the developing roller 20 against the photosensitive drum 10. Thereby, the spacer roller 26 is not separated from the photosensitive drum 10.
[0049]
Further, the developing roller gear 72 of the developing roller 20 may be disposed on the slide frame body 43 side, and the developing roller 20 may be rotationally driven on the slide frame body 43 side. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. In this configuration, the developing roller gear 72 disposed on the slide frame 43 side meshes with the drum gear 71 provided at the end of the photosensitive drum 10 and receives a driving force from the drum gear 71. An arrow a in the figure indicates the direction of the meshing pressure that acts on the developing roller gear 72 when the drive is transmitted from the drum gear 71 to the developing roller gear 72. The angle of the slide surface of the slide frame body 43 may be set to an angle at which the slide frame body 43 is perpendicular to the arrow a, or when the meshing pressure acts on the slide plane, the force presses the slide frame body 43 toward the photosensitive drum 10. In FIG. 17, F is a force generated by the meshing pressure acting on the developing roller gear 72. Fy is a component force perpendicular to the guide plane 51b of the force F, and similarly Fx is a component force parallel to the guide plane 51b of the force F. The direction of Fx is in the direction of the photosensitive drum 10. Thus, the developing roller 20 is not pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by the influence of the meshing pressure from the gear when the developing roller 20 is driven, and the spacer roller 26 is not separated from the photosensitive drum 10.
[0050]
Next, driving of the developer feeding member 23 and the developer stirring member 24 in the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16 and FIG.
[0051]
The developing roller gear 72 that has obtained the driving force from the drum gear 71 is provided coaxially with the developer feeding member 23 via the first intermediate gear 73 and the second intermediate gear 74, as shown in FIGS. The developer feed gear 76 thus driven is rotated. A developer stirring gear 78 provided coaxially with the developer stirring member 24 is driven to rotate from the developer feeding gear 76 through the third intermediate gear 75. Note that the first intermediate gear 73 and the second intermediate gear 74 are both stepped gears, and perform deceleration to rotate the developer feed gear 76 and the developer agitation gear 78 at a predetermined peripheral speed.
[0052]
The developing roller gear 72 is supported by the swing frame body 42 of the moving frame body 40 as described above. The developer stirring gear 78 is supported by the developing device frame 50 that supports the movable frame 40 so as to be movable. On the other hand, the second intermediate gear 74, the developer feed gear 76, and the third intermediate gear 75 are supported by the side plate 90 (see FIG. 13A). The first intermediate gear 73 is supported by a swing pin 77b on the other end side of a swing arm 77 (a swing drive force transmission member support member) having a support center of the second intermediate gear 74 as a swing center 77a. ing. Further, the swing pin 77b is configured to be swingable within the range of the long hole 90h provided in the side plate 90. Therefore, the first intermediate gear 73 is configured to be able to swing around the swing center 77 a of the swing arm 77, and can swing relative to the developing roller gear 72. The center distance between the first intermediate gear 73 and the second intermediate gear 74 is constant by the swing arm 77.
[0053]
The positioning of the first intermediate gear 73 with respect to the developing roller gear 72 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views showing the attachment state of the gears 72 to 76 and 78 and the positioning state of the swing arm 77. FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing the positioning state of the swing arm 77.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 15B and FIG. 16, the swing arm 77 swinging around the swing center 77a is formed with a positioning portion 77c provided concentrically with the swing pin 77b at the other end. The first intermediate gear 73 is supported by the swing pin 77b. When the driving force is transmitted, the first intermediate gear 73 is engaged with the developing roller gear 72 and the second intermediate gear 74 as shown in FIG. ₁ Act. This F ₁ Component force F ₁ Due to x, the first intermediate gear 73 receives a force around the swing center 77a in the direction in which the meshing of the developing roller gear 72 is maintained. Then, the positioning portion 77 c comes into contact with the positioning portion 42 a concentric with the developing roller 20 provided on the swing frame body 42. Therefore, the distance between the centers of the first intermediate gear 73 and the developing roller gear 72 is kept constant, and the first intermediate gear 73 and the developing roller gear 72 are meshed with each other.
[0055]
With this configuration, the developing roller gear 72 supported by the swing frame 42 is attached to the developing device frame 50, the photosensitive unit B, or the side plate 90 fixedly attached to the developer container 21. On the other hand, even if the position fluctuates, the distance between the centers of the developing roller gear 72 and the first intermediate gear 73 can be maintained, and the meshing can be reliably maintained. Therefore, wear of the developing roller gear 72 and the first intermediate gear 73 is reduced, and an effect of preventing an increase in driving torque of the developing device is also produced.
[0056]
In the drive system of the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 13 to 16), the positioning portion 77c of the swing arm 77 is used as the swing frame body 42 in order to determine the center distance between the developing roller gear 72 and the first intermediate gear 73. It was set as the structure which abuts against the provided positioning part 42a. However, the configuration shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may be adopted. That is, in FIG. 18, a positioning portion (moving frame positioning portion) 72 a that abuts the positioning portion 77 c of the swing arm 77 uses a member that is formed integrally with the developing roller gear 72 and concentrically. In FIG. 19, the positioning portion 77 c of the swing arm 77 is positioned in contact with the shaft portion (moving frame positioning portion) of the developing roller 20. Similar effects can be obtained with the above-described configuration.
[0057]
In the drive system of the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 13 to 16), the swing arm 77 that supports the first intermediate gear 73 is pivotally supported by the side plate 90 in the support structure of the swing arm. However, as shown in FIG. 20, the first intermediate gear 73 and the swing arm 77 x can be supported by the swing frame body 42. The developing roller gear 72 is supported by the same swinging frame body 42, and the first intermediate gear 73 and the developing roller gear 72 are always in mesh with each other even if the swinging frame body 42 moves. Then, the swing arm 77x is attached to the swing frame body 42 so that the support shaft of the first intermediate gear 73 is the swing center 77xa, and the swing pin 77xb provided at the other end of the swing arm 77x is connected to the second. The intermediate gear 74 is supported. With this configuration, the second intermediate gear 74 can swing as indicated by an arrow by a swing arm 77x that swings about a swing center 77xa provided coaxially with the first intermediate gear 73. When the driving force is transmitted, the second intermediate gear 74 is pressed in the direction of the developer feed gear 76 by the reaction force received from the first intermediate gear 73 and the developer feed gear 76. Then, the positioning portion of the swing arm 77x abuts on the positioning portion provided on each frame. 18 and 19, a positioning portion (not shown) provided in the developer feed gear (second frame driving force transmission member) 76 or a developer feed gear (second frame driving force transmission member). It may be configured to abut on a shaft (not shown) that supports 76. Therefore, the center-to-center distance between the second intermediate gear 74 and the developer feed gear 76 is kept constant and can be reliably engaged. Therefore, wear of the second intermediate gear 74 and the developer feed gear 76 is reduced, and an effect of preventing an increase in driving torque of the developing device is produced.
[0058]
Further, as shown in FIG. 21, the second intermediate gear 74 and the swing arm 77 y can be supported by the developing device frame 50 or the developer storage container 21. In this case, the first intermediate gear 73 is supported by a swing pin 77yb provided at the other end of the swing arm 77y. The first intermediate gear 73 can swing as indicated by an arrow with respect to a swing center 77ya of a swing arm 77y provided coaxially with the second intermediate gear 74. Then, as the positioning portion that abuts the positioning portion of the swing arm 77y, the positioning portion provided on the swing frame body 42 can be used as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. Similarly to FIGS. 18 and 19, a positioning portion (not shown) provided in the developing roller gear 72 or a shaft supporting the developing roll gear 72 may be brought into contact.
[0059]
Therefore, the position of the developing roller gear 72 supported by the swing frame 42 is changed with respect to the developing device frame 50, the photosensitive unit B, or the side plate 90 fixedly attached to the developer container 21. However, the distance between the centers of the developing roller gear 72 and the first intermediate gear 73 is maintained, and the meshing is reliably maintained. Therefore, wear of the developing roller gear 72 and the first intermediate gear 73 is reduced, and an effect of preventing an increase in driving torque of the developing device is also produced.
[0060]
In the present embodiment, gears are shown as the transmission members of the first driving force transmission member, the second driving force transmission member, and the moving frame body transmission member. However, the driving force of a friction wheel, a pulley, a belt, and the like is shown. A transmission member may be used.
[0061]
In this embodiment, a developing roller is shown as the developer carrying member, but a developing belt or the like may be used.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the movable frame supporting the developer carrying member is movably supported by the second frame, and the developer carrying member is pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the urging member. By adopting such a configuration, even if the amount of developer in the developer accommodating portion varies, the pressing force of the developer carrying member to the electrophotographic photosensitive member is stabilized. In order to drive the developer feeding means, a second driving force transmitting member provided on the second frame and a swing driving force transmitting member for transmitting driving force to the movable frame are provided. Further, by supporting the swing driving force transmission member supporting member that supports the swing driving force transmitting member so as to be swingable, it is possible to smoothly transmit the driving force and to prevent an increase in driving torque.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a moving frame body that holds a developing roller in a process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing roller and a swing frame body that supports the developing roller and a slide frame body in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the moving frame body that holds the developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention as seen from the back side, and shows a seal member of the moving frame body.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a developing device frame incorporating a moving frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the developing device unit showing a state in which the moving frame is incorporated in the developing device frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the slide frame of the moving frame and the developing device frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the relationship between the slide frame of the moving frame and the developing device frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a frame seal at an end in a state where a moving frame is incorporated in a developing device frame in a process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining magnetic seal portions at both ends of the developing roller in a state in which the moving frame is incorporated in the developing device frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the developing device unit and the photoconductor unit in the process cartridge according to the present invention are coupled by a side plate.
FIG. 13A is a view showing a side plate that joins the developing device unit and the photosensitive unit, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of a part thereof.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a drive system such as a developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views showing an attachment state of each gear of a driving system such as a developing roller and a positioning state of a swing arm, respectively. FIGS.
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a positioning state of a swing arm of a driving system such as a developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a view for explaining an example in which a gear is arranged on the slide frame side of the moving frame in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged view showing another positioning state of the swing arm of the drive system in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged view showing another positioning state of the swing arm of the drive system in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing another example of a drive system such as a developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing still another example of a drive system such as a developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a drive system such as a developing roller in the process cartridge according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Developer unit
B Photoconductor unit
L Laser beam light
3 Transfer roller
4 recording media
5 Fixing means 10 Photosensitive drum
11 Charging means
12 Removed developer container
14 Cleaning means
20 Developing roller
20a, 20b Flange
21 Developer storage container
22 Development blade
22a Development blade sheet metal
23 Developer feed member
25 Blowout prevention sheet
26 Spacer roller
27 Bearing
28 Fixed magnet
32 Biasing spring
40 Moving frame
41 Frame
42 Swing frame
42a Positioning part
43 Slide frame
44 Elastic seal member
45 Elastic seal member
46 Swing arm
47 Swing hole
50 Developer frame
55 Support arm
56 fixing hole
57 Seal receiving surface
58 Seal receiving surface
60 Magnetic seal members
70 Drive gear
71 Drum Gear
72 Developing roller gear
72a Positioning part
73 1st intermediate gear
74 Second intermediate gear
75 3rd intermediate gear
76 Developer feed gear
77 Swing arm
77a Oscillation center
77b Swing pin
77c Positioning part
77x swing arm
77xa swing center
77xb swing pin
77y swing arm
77ya swing center
77yb swing pin
78 Developer stirring gear
80 engaging pin
90, 91 side plate

Claims (10)

In a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor;
A developer carrying member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
A developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developer carrying member;
Developer feeding means for transporting the developer to the development carrier;
A first frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
A second frame having the developer accommodating portion;
A movable frame that supports the developer carrier and is movable with respect to the second frame;
An urging member for pressing the developer carrying member supported by the moving frame against the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
A first driving force transmission member provided in a first frame for receiving a driving force from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body and transmitting the driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
To transmit the driving force to the developer feed means, second driving force transmitting member provided on said second frame,
In order to transmit the driving force to the developing bearing member receives the driving force from the first driving force transmission member, a movable frame driving force transmission member provided on the movable frame,
A swing driving force transmission member that transmits the driving force from the moving frame body driving force transmission member to the second driving force transmission member;
A swing driving force transmission member support member that supports the swing driving force transmission member;
A process cartridge, wherein the swing driving force transmission member support member is swingably supported.   Further, the process cartridge includes a third frame that joins the first frame and the second frame at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the first frame and the second frame. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the swing driving force transmission member support member is supported by the third frame body.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the swing driving force transmission member support member is supported by the second frame.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the swing driving force transmission member support member is supported by the movable frame body.   When the driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body to the first driving force transmission member, the support member positioning portion provided on the swing driving force transmission member support member is moved to the moving frame provided on the moving frame body. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is in contact with a body positioning portion. When the driving force is transmitted from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body to the first driving force transmission member, the support member positioning portion provided on the swinging driving force transmission member support member serves as the second frame body. 5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is in contact with a second frame body positioning portion provided on the cartridge.   The swing driving force transmission member and the moving frame body driving force transmission member are gears, and the moving frame body positioning portion is a member provided on the moving frame body driving force transmission member or the moving frame body drive. 6. The process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the process cartridge is a shaft that supports the force transmission member.   The swing driving force transmission member and the second frame driving force transmission member are gears, and the second frame positioning portion is a member provided on the second frame driving force transmission member, or the second frame positioning portion. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the process cartridge is a shaft that supports the frame body driving force transmission member.   9. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second driving force transmission member transmits the driving force to a developer agitating unit that circulates the developer. 10.   10. The moving frame body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the moving frame body is held so as to be swingable on the driving side and slidable on the non-driving side with respect to the first or second frame body. Process cartridge according to.

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