JP2005049762A - Process cartridge and drum support member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process cartridge which uses an easy, low-cost part-connecting method and designed taking recyclability into account. <P>SOLUTION: The process cartridge can be attached to or detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes: a photoreceptor drum; at least one processing means which acts on the photoreceptor drum; and first and second resin members bonded by ultrasonic welding. Near the welded part, the first resin member has a first hole, and a first contact part which comes into contact with the second resin member. Near the welded part, the second resin member has a second hole corresponding to the first hole, and a second contact part which comes into contact with the first contact part. In the welded part, a space is provided between the first resin member and the second resin member. The first hole and the second hole are ones in which screws are inserted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge and a drum support member.

  Here, the process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and a photosensitive drum are integrally formed, and this cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electronic image forming apparatus. Alternatively, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the photosensitive drum are integrated into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  When an image forming apparatus using electrophotography is used for a long time, it is necessary to replace the photosensitive drum, to supply and replace the developer, and to adjust, clean and replace the other (charger, cleaning container, etc.). However, such maintenance work is practically difficult except for a service person having specialized knowledge.

  Therefore, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, the photosensitive drum and the process means acting on the photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The method is adopted. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user 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 image forming apparatuses.

  A conventional process cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (same as the present embodiment).

  The process cartridge B includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning for cleaning the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. There are means. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B rotates a photosensitive drum 7 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, and applies a voltage to a charging roller 8 that is a charging unit to apply a surface to the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. The charged photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged, and information light (light image) based on image information from the optical system is exposed to the charged photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 9b to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. The electrostatic latent image is formed and developed by the developing means 10.

  The developing means 10 sends out the toner in the toner storage portion 10a by a rotatable feed member 10b which is a toner feeding means. Then, the developing roller 10d, which is a developing rotator (developer carrying member) incorporating the fixed magnet 10c, is rotated, and a toner layer imparted with triboelectric charge is formed on the surface of the developing roller 10d by the developing blade 10e. The toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image and making it visible.

  Then, after the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage having the opposite polarity to the toner image to the transfer roller 4 shown in FIG. 1 (same as the present embodiment), the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred by the cleaning blade 11a. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off, scraped off by the squeeze sheet 11b, and collected on the removed toner storage portion 11c by the cleaning means 11 to be removed.

  FIG. 20 is an assembled perspective view of the cleaning means. The photosensitive drum 7 is fixed to the cleaning frame 11d with screws 80 and 81 via a bearing member 18c.

  Some fastening methods other than conventional screw fastening use a joining method by ultrasonic welding (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-140310 (page 2-3, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Application No. 61-162486 (page 2-3, FIG. 2)

  The present invention further develops the above-described conventional example, and proposes a process cartridge and a drum support member in consideration of recyclability while using a simple and low-cost component joining method.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge removable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum, at least one process means acting on the photosensitive drum, and ultrasonic welding. A first resin member and a second resin member that are joined by joining, the first resin member being in contact with the first hole portion and the second resin member in the vicinity of the weld portion. The second resin member has a second hole portion corresponding to the first hole portion in the vicinity of the weld portion, and a second contact portion that contacts the first contact portion. A contact portion, and the weld portion has a space between the first resin member and the second resin member, and the first hole portion and the second hole portion are: It is a hole for inserting a screw.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the second resin member is a resin frame that houses the photosensitive drum, and the first resin member is the photosensitive member. It is a resin-made drum support member for supporting a body drum on the frame.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the surface of the first resin member has a recess, the recess has the first hole, and the back side of the recess Has a recess adjacent to the first contact portion.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second resin member has a concave portion adjacent to the second contact portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drum is coupled to the photosensitive drum by at least one process means acting on the photosensitive drum by ultrasonic welding. A resin frame for housing the drum; and a resin drum support member for supporting the photosensitive drum on the frame, wherein the drum support member is disposed in the vicinity of the welding portion. A first abutting portion that abuts against the frame body, and the frame body includes a second hole portion corresponding to the first hole portion in the vicinity of the welded portion; A first abutting portion and a second abutting portion that abuts the first abutting portion, and the welded portion includes a space portion between the drum support member and the frame, and the first hole portion and the first abutting portion. The second hole is a hole for inserting a screw.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the surface of the drum support member has a recess, the recess has the first hole, and the back side of the recess has the It has the recessed part adjacent to the 1st contact part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, when the cleaning frame body and the bearing member are joined by ultrasonic spot welding, the bearing member is provided with the concave portion, thereby providing a mark for receiving the ultrasonic welding horn. Further, a first contact portion for positioning in the longitudinal direction with the cleaning frame body on the back side of the recess provided in the bearing member, and a first contact portion that contacts the first contact portion with the corresponding cleaning frame body. 2 is provided, and a recess is provided at a location adjacent to the first contact portion of the bearing member, so that the molten resin by ultrasonic spot welding flows into the recess, thereby positioning the cleaning frame body and the bearing member. It becomes possible to combine them with certainty.

  In addition, since the hole is provided in the cleaning frame body and the corresponding bearing member is provided with a hole, the screw can be tightened after peeling the welded part when reusing the process cartridge connected by ultrasonic welding. Sometimes the cartridge can be easily assembled.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge is a direction that intersects the direction in which the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body (a direction that is substantially orthogonal, the axial direction of the image carrier) and is parallel to the surface of the recording medium. And a direction intersecting (substantially orthogonal to) the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Further, the left and right are left or right when the recording medium is viewed from above according to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. In addition, the upper surface of the process cartridge is a surface located above when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the lower surface is a surface located below.

  First, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge, and FIG. 2 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of a process cartridge. Here, as an order of explanation, the overall configuration of the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the process cartridge will be described first, and then the configuration of attaching / detaching the process cartridge to / from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described. .

(overall structure)
This electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer, hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus”) A, as shown in FIG. 1, receives information light based on image information from an optical system 1 as an optical means. A photographic photosensitive member (image carrier, hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 7 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7, and this electrostatic latent image is referred to as a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”). Development) to form a toner image. In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium (recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) 2 is separated and fed one by one from the cassette 3a by the pick-up roller 3b and the pressure contact member 3c that presses the recording medium. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B along the guide 3f1 is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 as transfer means, and then the recording medium 2 is transferred along the transport guide 3f2. To the fixing means 5. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5a and a fixing rotating body 5d including a heater 5b and a cylindrical sheet rotatably supported by a supporting body 5c, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough. Is applied to fix the transferred toner image. The recording medium 2 is transported by a discharge roller 3d and discharged to a discharge unit 6 through a reverse transport path. In this embodiment, the pickup means 3b, the pressure contact member 3c, the discharge roller 3d, etc. constitute the conveying means 3.

(Process cartridge)
On the other hand, the process cartridge B includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a toner for cleaning the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. There are cleaning means and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment rotates a photosensitive drum 7 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, and applies a voltage to a charging roller 8 that is a charging unit to apply the voltage to the photosensitive drum. The surface of the drum 7 is uniformly charged, and information light (light image) based on the image information from the optical system 1 is exposed to the charged photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 9b. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing means 10.

  The developing means 10 sends out the toner in the toner storage portion 10a by a rotatable feed member 10b which is a toner feeding means. Then, the developing roller 10d, which is a developing rotator (developer carrying member) incorporating the fixed magnet 10c, is rotated, and a toner layer imparted with triboelectric charge is formed on the surface of the developing roller 10d by the developing blade 10e. The toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image and making it visible.

  After the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 11a and the squeeze sheet 11b. Scoop and collect in the removed toner storage 11c. Thus, the cleaning unit 11 is configured to remove the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7.

  The process cartridge B shown in the present embodiment rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 7, and includes a cleaning frame 11d in which a cleaning unit 11 and a charging roller 8 are incorporated, a developing unit 10, and a toner storage unit 10a. And a toner developing frame 10f. The toner developing frame 10f is rotatably supported with respect to the cleaning frame 11d so that the developing roller 10d of the developing unit 10 can face the photosensitive drum 7 in parallel with a predetermined interval. Spacers 10m (see FIG. 7) for maintaining a gap between the roller 10d and the photosensitive drum 7 are disposed at both ends of the developing roller 10d. Holder members 10g are provided on both side surfaces of the toner developing frame 10f, and have suspension arms 10g7 in which coupling holes 10g8 are formed for rotatably suspending the development unit from the cleaning unit. A predetermined pressure is applied between the developing unit and the cleaning unit in order to maintain a gap.

  Next, the configuration of the cleaning unit 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The cleaning unit 11 includes a first sealing member 11e that prevents toner leakage from the back of both ends of the cleaning blade 11a from the removed toner storage portion 11c, and a second sealing member 11h that prevents toner leakage from the back of the cleaning blade. It is fixed to a predetermined position of 11d with double-sided tape or the like. Next, the cleaning blade 11a is fixed to a predetermined position of the cleaning frame 11d with a screw to prevent toner leakage from both ends of the rubber of the cleaning blade 11a and to remove a deposit such as toner on the photosensitive drum 7 as a first member. 3 and a squeeze sheet 11b as a scooping member are fixed to the cleaning frame 11d by a double-sided tape 11g or the like. Further, an electrode 8c for supplying power to the charging roller 8 from the image forming apparatus main body A is fitted into the cleaning frame 11d.

  Further, the charging roller 8 is supplied with power from the electrode 8c, and the roller bearing 8b as the bearing and the other bearing 8a are incorporated in the cleaning frame, and the shaft portion of the charging roller 8 is fitted into the bearings 8b and 8a. .

  The photosensitive drum 7 is coupled with a driving transmission coupling means 70 and a developing roller 10, a gear for driving transmission to the transfer roller 4, a drum gear 71 in which a ground contact and the like are integrated, and the other with a bearing. The flange 85 which has is couple | bonded. On the coupling means 70 side of the photosensitive drum 7, a bearing 18 c is ultrasonically spot welded to the cleaning frame body 11 d (details will be described later), and the other is the cleaning frame body so that the positioning pin 18 d is accommodated in the positioning portion 18 b. It is press-fitted into 11d and supported.

  In the process cartridge B of the present embodiment, a drum shutter 12 capable of integrally covering the transfer opening 9a and the exposure opening 9b facing the transfer roller 4 of the photosensitive drum 7 is rotatably provided on the cleaning frame 11d. It has been.

  Here, the configuration of the drum shutter 12 will be described.

  The drum shutter 12 includes a drum protection unit 12 a that can cover the transfer opening 9 a where the photosensitive drum 7 contacts the transfer roller 4. The rotating shaft 12b that is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the charging roller 8 of the cleaning frame 11d includes a sliding portion 12b1 that slides with the cleaning frame 11d at both ends of the rotating shaft 12b and a sliding portion 12b1 at both ends. A connecting portion 12b3 is provided. The drum shutter 12 has connecting portions 12c provided at two left and right positions connecting both ends of the drum protection portion 12a and the outer side of the rotating shaft 12b. There is a rib 12e (see FIG. 9) disposed on the outer side of the rotation shaft 12b1 and provided on the right connecting portion 12c and extending outward in the longitudinal direction of the drum shutter 12. The rib 12e is a guide Gb on the image forming apparatus main body side (see FIG. 9). 10), the drum shutter 12 is held open.

  A biasing force is applied to the drum shutter 12 in a direction in which the drum shutter 12 covers the photosensitive drum 7 by a spring force of a shutter spring 12d (see FIG. 4). Thus, in a state where the process cartridge B is taken out from the apparatus main body, the drum shutter 12 maintains a closed state covering the transfer opening 9a of the photosensitive drum 7 in the state shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. In the state in which the image forming operation is possible, the drum shutter opening / closing means on the image forming apparatus main body side is rotated to expose the transfer opening 9a as shown in FIG. Take a posture that allows contact.

  Next, the developing means 10 of the process cartridge B will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the developing means 10 combines a toner developing frame 10f1 and a lid member 10f2 to constitute a toner chamber (toner accommodating portion) 10a and a developing chamber 10i.

  The toner developing frame 10f1 includes a sheet member 10b2 fixed to the agitation shaft 10b1 for supplying toner, and a conveyance gear 10b3 that regulates drive transmission and the length of the agitation shaft 10b1 is outside the toner developing frame 10f1. Are coupled to the agitation shaft 10b1 together with a seal member 10b4 that prevents leakage of the agitation.

  The toner developing frame 10f1 is provided with a toner passage opening 10k (see FIG. 6) through which the toner stored in the toner chamber 10a passes when supplied to the developing roller 10d.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the toner seal member 27 is heated and fixed to the seal mounting portion 10h along the edges of the four sides of the toner passage opening 10k. A toner filling port (not shown) for filling the toner chamber 10a with toner is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner developing frame 10f1 and sealed with a cap member 10j after filling with toner.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  An end seal 10r for preventing toner leakage at both ends of the developing roller 10d is attached to the toner developing frame 10f1, and a seal member 10s for preventing toner leakage at both ends of the developing blade 10e is provided with a double-sided tape or the like. Affixed to the body 10f1.

  The developing blade 10e is fixed to the toner developing frame 10f1 by screws with a scraping member 10t that scrapes off the toner at the end of the developing roller 10d at both ends of the sheet metal portion 10e1. At this time, the rib 10f3 with the thin tip of the toner developing frame 10f1 is set to have a size that always bites into the developing blade rubber portion 10e2, and the rubber portion 10e2 of the developing blade and the toner developing frame 10f1 remain sealed. It becomes.

(Configuration of end member)
One end member 10g arranged on both longitudinal sides of the developing means 10 includes a developing roller gear 10n fixed to the end of the developing roller meshed with a drum gear (not shown) fixed to the end of the photosensitive drum 7, and A gear train composed of two idler gears 10p and 10q for transmitting drive from the developing roller gear 10n to the conveying gear 10b3 of the toner feeding member 10b is covered.

  The lead-out portion 27a of the toner seal member 27 is folded back at one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner passage opening 10k, and is pulled out through the hole 10f11 (see FIG. 6) of the toner developing frame body 10f1.

  Next, the developing unit 10 and the cleaning unit 11 configured as described above are combined as shown in FIG. An arm portion 10g7 protrudes from the two end members 10g toward the cleaning frame 11d. A longitudinal coupling hole 10g8 provided at the tip of the arm 10g7 and a coupling hole (not shown) provided in the cleaning frame body. The cleaning frame 11d and the end member 10g can be pivotably coupled by the pin 60 fitted into the. A compression coil spring 10g9a whose inner diameter is fitted into the spring stopper of one end member 10g is contracted between the cleaning frame 11d, and on the other hand, a tension spring 10g9b is hung on the cleaning frame 11d and the end member 10g. Then, the gap holding member 10m on both sides of the developing roller 10d is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 7, and the developing roller 10d and the photosensitive drum 7 are held with a predetermined gap, whereby the process cartridge B is completed.

  When a user purchases and uses a process cartridge, the user holds the toner seal end portion 27a of FIG. 9 and pulls it out, thereby opening the toner passage opening 10k of the toner developing frame 10f1 and supplying toner from the toner chamber 10a to the developing chamber. 10i can be sent out and ready to be inserted into the image forming apparatus main body A.

(Drum support method to the cleaning frame)
As described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the bearing member 18c is coupled to the photosensitive drum 7 on the coupling means 70 side by ultrasonic spot welding, and the other is cleaned so that the positioning pin 18d can be accommodated in the positioning portion 18b. The frame body 11d is press-fitted and supported.

  The coupling between the bearing member 18c and the cleaning frame 11d will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the bearing member 18 c supports the photosensitive drum 7 by fitting with a bearing support portion 70 a provided in the coupling portion 70 at a coupling support portion 18 c 4. Further, the cleaning frame body fitting portion 18c5 shown in FIG. 15 is fitted to the cleaning frame body 11d to a C-type bearing fitting portion 70b provided on the cleaning frame body 11d.

  Further, the elongated hole portion 18c6 provided in the bearing member 18c is engaged with the boss 11f provided in the cleaning frame body 11d, thereby preventing the rotation of the bearing member 18c with respect to the cleaning frame body 11d.

  The coupling between the cleaning frame 11d and the bearing member 18c is performed by ultrasonic spot welding (ultrasonic spot welding will be described later).

  The bearing member 18c is provided with recesses 18c7 and 18c8 as marks for receiving the ultrasonic welding horn 71 as shown in FIG. 16 (FIG. 14). On the back side of the recesses 18c7 and 18c8, first contact portions 18c9 and 18c10 for positioning in the longitudinal direction with the cleaning frame body 11d as shown in FIG. 15 are provided, and the corresponding cleaning frames are provided. The body 11d is provided with second contact portions 11h and 11i that contact the first contact portions 18c9 and 18c10 as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, recesses 18c11 and 18c12 are provided at locations adjacent to the first contact portions 18c9 and 18c10 of the bearing member 18c. The operation of the recesses 18c11 and 18c12 will be described later.

  Furthermore, holes 18c13, 18c14 are provided in the recesses 18c7, 18c8, and holes 11j, 11k having a smaller diameter than the holes 18c13, 18c14 are provided in the corresponding cleaning frame 11d. .

  Next, ultrasonic spot welding coupling, which is a coupling method between the cleaning frame 11d and the bearing member 18c, will be described with reference to FIG.

  Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the ultrasonic welding horn 71 by an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown), and the convex portion 71a at the tip of the horn is inserted into the concave portion 18c7 provided in the bearing member 18c.

  The inserted convex portion 71a is inserted while melting the upper plate 18cA of the bearing member 18c, penetrating the concave portion 18c11, and melting part of the cleaning frame 11d (FIG. 17). As shown in FIG. 17, the molten resin 72 flows into the recess 18c11 and couples the bearing member 18c and the cleaning frame 11d. As described above, the first contact portion 18c9 of the bearing member 18c and the second contact portion 11h of the cleaning frame body 11d are securely joined by the resin member 72, and the molten resin flows into the recess, whereby the cleaning frame Since the body 11d and the bearing member 18c do not float at the time of joining, positioning in the longitudinal direction can be performed. The same coupling is performed in the recess 18c8, which is another welding location.

  In the present embodiment, the recesses 18c11 and 18c12 are provided in the bearing member 18c. However, the same effect can be obtained by providing a recess in the cleaning frame 11d.

  In this embodiment, the ultrasonic spot welding bonding provided with the recesses 18c11 and 18c12 is performed, but the case where the recesses 18c11 and 18c12 are not provided and the ultrasonic welding bonding between the flat plates is shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. .

  The inserted convex portion 71a is inserted while melting the upper plate 18cA of the bearing member 18c and melting part of the cleaning frame 11d in the same manner as described above (FIG. 19). As shown in FIG. 19, the molten resin 72 pushes the bearing member 18c upward to generate a gap g between the cleaning member 11d and the bearing member 18c and the cleaning frame 11d. For this reason, the first contact portion 18c9 of the bearing member 18c and the second contact portion 11h of the cleaning frame 11d cannot contact each other, and the longitudinal positioning of the process cartridge becomes inaccurate.

  In the present embodiment, the holes 11j and 11k are provided in the cleaning frame 11d, and the holes 18c13 and 18c14 are provided in the corresponding bearing member 18c. This is because, when the process cartridge coupled by ultrasonic welding as described above is reused, the photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8, the cleaning blade 11a and the like are replaced after the welded portion is peeled off, and the bearing member 18c is again formed. Is provided with a hole so that it can be screwed when assembled to the cleaning frame 11d so that the cartridge can be easily assembled during recycling.

(Removal of process cartridge B to / from image forming apparatus main body)
The process cartridge B assembled as described above is attached to the image forming apparatus main body A for image formation. The mounting mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The bearing member 18c (see FIG. 13) attached to the cleaning frame 11d of the process cartridge B has an arc portion (first contact) formed coaxially with the drum center axis as a mounting guide to the image forming apparatus main body A. Part) 18c1 and an arcuate rotation stopper (second abutting part) 18c2 for controlling the posture formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge frame at the corner of the bearing member 18c. It is done.

  The arc portion 18c1 is located outside the developing means 10 in the drum axis direction of the developing means 10, and is disposed so as to at least partially overlap the developing means 10 on the cross section. The rotation stopper 18c2 is located outside the developing unit 10 and is formed so as to overlap all the axial directions of the photosensitive drum 7 of the developing unit 10. Further, the rotation stopper 18c2 is disposed behind the arc portion 18c1 in the insertion direction.

  According to the present embodiment, the triangular coupling portion 70 that receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus main body A is disposed on the inner side in the drum axial direction than the bearing member 18c.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the image forming apparatus main body A guides the process cartridge B to the image forming position (mounting position) while sliding the two arc portions 18 c 1 and the rotation stopper 18 c 2. A guide member Ga is formed as a main body guide.

  On the other hand, a cleaning frame 11d (see FIG. 12) on the side facing the bearing member 18c of the process cartridge B in the drum shaft direction, a positioning portion 18b for covering the drum support shaft 18d, and a process cartridge when attached / detached A protrusion 11g for controlling the position of B is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the image forming apparatus main body A, the attitude of the process cartridge controlled on the bearing member 18c side is similarly maintained on the opposite side, and is not inclined with respect to the drum axis direction. Thus, a guide member Gb as a second main body guide is provided.

  With reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 13, how the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A will be described.

  First, an opening / closing door member (not shown) constituting the discharge portion 6 of the image forming apparatus main body A is opened to expose the guide members Ga and Gb, the arc portion 18c1 of the process cartridge is forward, and the rotation stop portion 18c2 is The arc portions 18c1 and 18c2 of the process cartridge B are placed on the first guide surface Ga1 of which the front portion of the guide member Ga is bent slightly so as to be rearward. Accordingly, the positioning portion 18b and the projection 11g of the process cartridge B are fitted to the first guide surface Gb1 of the other guide member Gb. In this state, the process cartridge B is pushed inward of the image forming apparatus main body A.

  As a result, the arc portion 18c1 and the rotation stop portion 18c2 of the process cartridge B are formed substantially horizontally with respect to the second guide surface Ga2 and the second guide surface Ga2 formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first guide surface Ga1. Further, the guide is slid to the mounting position defined by the third guide surface Ga3 and the curved fourth guide surface Ga4 formed to be connected to the third guide surface Ga3.

  Thereby, in the process cartridge B, the arc portion 18c1 abuts on the fourth guide surface Ga4 as the first main body receiving portion, and the rear curved surface portion of the rotation stopping portion 18c2 (see FIG. 13) is the second guide surface Ga2. Is placed on the third guide surface Ga3. In this loaded state, the transfer roller 4 and the photosensitive drum 7 are brought into contact with each other, and a repulsive force is applied to the process cartridge B in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the third abutting portion 18c3 abuts on the fifth guide surface Ga5 located in the vicinity of Ga3 to prevent the process cartridge B from being displaced. The third abutting portion 18c3 may be integrated with the second abutting portion 18c2 that is a rotation stopper, or may be a separate body.

  On the other hand, the positioning portion 18b and the protrusion 11g on the opposite side of the process cartridge B have a plurality of second guide surfaces Gb2, third guide surfaces Gb3, fourth guide surfaces Gb4, etc. that are formed continuously with the first guide surface Gb1. It is guided by sliding to the mounting position defined by the guide surface. Finally, the positioning part is guided to the positioning position Gb5.

  As described above, the process cartridge B is mounted at the mounting position with respect to the apparatus main body. Next, when the door of the image forming apparatus A is closed, the triangular coupling 70 of the cartridge B is fitted into a drive transmission member (not shown) of the torsion concave shape of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the process from the image forming apparatus main body A is performed. A rotational driving force is transmitted to the cartridge B.

  As a result, the process cartridge B rotates about the axis of the photosensitive drum 7 about the rotation center axis. At this time, the third contact portion 18c3 of the bearing member 18c that has been in contact with the guide and the guide surface Ga5 have a gap, and the rotation stop portion 18c2 of the bearing member 18c described above is a prescribed surface of the guide member Ga. Positioning in the rotational direction is made in contact with a certain third guide surface Ga3.

  On the other hand, the positioning part 18b on the drum axis of the cleaning frame 11d on the opposite side in the drum axis direction fits in a U-shaped groove as a positioning part formed by the fourth guide surface Gb4 when the process cartridge B is mounted. Positioning is performed by a pressing spring (not shown) for suppressing the repulsive force of the roller 4 and the shake during driving. The other protrusion 11g of the drum frame C is set to a position and a size that do not contact the image forming apparatus main body A within the range of parts and assembly accuracy.

  Further, in the drum shutter 12, the protrusion 12e (see FIG. 9) abuts on the first shutter guide surface Gb7 formed on the guide Gb (see FIG. 10) in the middle of the mounting manner described above, and the drum shutter starts rotating. . Thereafter, the protrusion 12e contacts and slides on the second shutter guide surface Gb8 along the mounting state of the process cartridge B, and finally the drum shutter 12 is shown by the third guide surface Gb9 in FIGS. Is kept in the state.

  The posture described above becomes the posture of the process cartridge B at the time of image formation, and image formation is started.

  Further, when the process cartridge B is removed from the image forming apparatus main body A, the operation is opposite to the above-described mounting operation, and from the mounting position along the guides Ga and Gb of the corresponding image forming apparatus main body A from the outside of the apparatus. At the same time, the drum shutter 12 is also rotated and closed so as to cover the photosensitive drum 7 sequentially.

  When the process cartridge B is removed from the mounting position, the protrusion 11g contacts the fifth guide surface Gb5 on the upper surface of the guide member Gb, and the process cartridge tends to rotate upward by a predetermined amount upward in the removal direction. Work to regulate.

  Further, although the process cartridge shown in the above-described embodiment has exemplified the case of forming a single color image, the process cartridge according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of developing means, and a plurality of color images (for example, two color images, three color images). Alternatively, the present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms a full color or the like.

  The electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the photosensitive drum, and includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoreceptor, and examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and organic photoconductor (OPC). For example, a drum-like or belt-like shape is used for mounting the photoconductor. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited on a cylinder made of aluminum alloy or the like. It has been coated.

  As the developing method, various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, cascade developing method, touch-down developing method, and cloud developing method can be used.

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

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

  Further, as a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning unit may be configured using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush, or the like.

  The process cartridge described above includes, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Therefore, as an aspect of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means are integrated into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is an apparatus that combines an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a charging unit or a cleaning unit into an integral cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

  That is, the above-described process cartridge refers to a cartridge in which at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself.

  In the above-described embodiment, the laser beam printer is exemplified as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, electrophotographic printers such as electrophotographic copying machines and LED printers, facsimile apparatuses, The present invention can be applied to an arbitrary electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a word processor or a multifunction machine (multifunction printer or the like).

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of a process cartridge. It is an assembly perspective view of the cleaning means. It is a perspective view 1 of a cleaning means. It is a perspective view 2 of a cleaning means. FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view 1 of developing means. FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view 2 of the developing means. It is an assembly perspective view of a process cartridge. It is a completion perspective view of a process cartridge. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a left guide of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a right guide of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. It is a left view of a process cartridge. It is a right view of a process cartridge. It is a perspective view 3 of a cleaning means. It is a perspective view, a front view, and a rear view of a bearing member. It is sectional drawing 1 for description of an ultrasonic spot welding coupling | bonding. It is sectional drawing 2 for description of an ultrasonic spot welding coupling | bonding. It is sectional drawing 3 for description of an ultrasonic spot welding coupling | bonding. It is sectional drawing 4 for description of an ultrasonic spot welding coupling | bonding. It is an assembly perspective view of the cleaning means of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus B Process cartridge g Gap 1 Optical system 2 Recording medium 3 Conveying means 3a Cassette 3b Pickup roller 3c Pressure contact member 3d Discharge roller 3f1 Conveying guide 3f2 Conveying guide 4 Transfer roller 5 Fixing means 5a Driving roller 5b Heater 5c Support 5d Fixing rotator 6 Discharge opening 7 Photosensitive drum 8 Charging roller 9a Transfer opening 9b Exposure opening 10 Developing means 10a Toner container 10b Feed member 10b1 Stirring shaft 10b2 Sheet member 10c Fixed magnet 10d Developing roller 10e Developing blade 10e1 Sheet metal as a fixing member Part 10e2 rubber part 10f1 toner developing frame 10f2 lid member 10g end member 10g7 arm part 10g8 coupling hole 10g9a compression spring 10g9b tension spring 10i developing chamber 10k toner passage opening 1 n Developing roller gear 11 Cleaning means 11a Cleaning blade 11b Squee sheet 11c Removal toner storage portion 11d Cleaning frame 11e Elastic seal member 11f Boss 11g Projection portion 11h Second contact portion 11i Second contact portion 11j Hole portion 11k Hole portion 12 Drum shutter 12a Drum protector 12b1 Rotating shaft 12b2 Rotating shaft 12d Shutter spring 12e Projection 18b Positioning portion 18c Bearing member 181 Arc portion 18c2 Anti-rotation portion 18c3 Third contact portion 18c4 Coupling support portion 18c5 Cleaning frame body fitting portion 18c6 Long hole 18c7 Recess 18c8 Recess 18c9 First contact 18c10 First contact 18c11 Recess 18c12 Recess 18c13 Hole 18c14 Hole 18cA Upper plate 18d Positioning Down 27 toner seal member 27a lead portions 60 pin 70 coupling portion 70a bearing support portion 70b bearing fitting portion 71 by ultrasonic welding horn 71a projection 72 molten resin 80 bis 81 bis Ga guide Gb Guide

Claims (6)

In a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A photosensitive drum, at least one process means acting on the photosensitive drum, and a first resin member and a second resin member that are coupled by ultrasonic welding. A first hole portion in the vicinity of the weld portion and a first contact portion in contact with the second resin member, and the second resin member has the first hole portion in the vicinity of the weld portion. A corresponding second hole portion and a second abutting portion that abuts on the first abutting portion, and the welded portion includes a gap between the first resin member and the second resin member. A process cartridge, wherein the first hole portion and the second hole portion are holes for inserting screws.   The second resin member is a resin frame for housing the photosensitive drum, and the first resin member is a resin drum support for supporting the photosensitive drum on the frame. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is a member.   The surface of the first resin member has a recess, the recess has the first hole, and the back of the recess has a recess adjacent to the first contact portion. The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second resin member has a recess adjacent to the second contact portion. In a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A photosensitive drum; at least one process means acting on the photosensitive drum; a resin frame housing the photosensitive drum coupled by ultrasonic welding; and the photosensitive drum as the frame. A resin drum support member for supporting,
The drum support member has a first hole portion in the vicinity of the welding portion and a first contact portion that contacts the frame body, and the frame body has the first contact portion in the vicinity of the welding portion. And a second abutting portion that abuts against the first abutting portion, and the welding portion includes a gap between the drum support member and the frame body. A drum support member having a space, wherein the first hole and the second hole are holes for inserting screws.   The surface of the drum support member has a recess, the recess has the first hole, and the back of the recess has a recess adjacent to the first contact portion. The drum support member according to claim 5.

Images