JP4995243B2 - Developing cartridge, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a developing cartridge is detachably mounted. The present invention also relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachably mounted.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a color laser beam printer, a color LED printer), a facsimile apparatus, and a word processor.

  The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means as process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed, and is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means that act on the electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as the photoreceptor) are referred to as process means. A process cartridge having a photosensitive member and a developing unit integrally is referred to as a so-called integral type. Further, a process cartridge integrally including a photosensitive member and process means other than the developing means is referred to as a so-called separation type.

The developing cartridge has a developing roller, and stores a developer (toner) used for developing an electrostatic latent image (hereinafter, referred to as a latent image) formed on the photosensitive member by the developing roller. In the case of the developing cartridge, the photosensitive member is provided in the apparatus main body or a so-called separation type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not have developing means).
The developing cartridge and the process cartridge are detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body), and contribute to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium.
Here, the developing cartridge and the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself. Therefore, the user can easily maintain the apparatus main body.

In order to form a color image in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, a developer image (hereinafter referred to as a toner image) formed by a developer of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (hereinafter referred to as toner). .) Is known. Further, a developer accommodating portion (hereinafter referred to as a toner accommodating portion) that accommodates toner and a developing member such as a developing roller are incorporated into a frame (hereinafter referred to as a developing cartridge) so that the toner and the developing roller have a predetermined life. A cartridge system that can be easily replaced when it reaches the position is widely adopted.
On the other hand, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process means acting thereon are integrated into a unit (hereinafter referred to as a process cartridge), and can be easily replaced when the photosensitive member or the process means reaches a predetermined life. The cartridge system is also widely adopted.

  Further, there are a 4-pass method and a 1-pass method as a method of superimposing toner images. In the 4-pass system, developing units are arranged in parallel with respect to one photoconductor, and latent images formed on the photoconductor are sequentially developed by the respective developing units to form toner images. Then, a color image is formed by superimposing a plurality of toner images on the intermediate transfer member (see Patent Document 1). In the one-pass method, a plurality of photoconductors are arranged in parallel, and a latent image on each photoconductor is developed into a toner image. A color image is formed by sequentially transferring these toner images onto a recording medium (see Patent Document 2). The 4-pass method is a method suitable for reducing the cost and size of the apparatus because it can be composed of a single photoconductor and exposure means. On the other hand, the one-pass method is a method that can increase the printing speed of a color image, although a plurality of photoconductors, exposure means, and the like are required.

In recent years, color electrophotographic image forming apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as image forming apparatuses) have been widely used, and user needs have been diversified. In particular, the number of cases in which an image forming apparatus is installed on a desktop is increasing, and downsizing is desired.
On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 1, it is known that in an image forming apparatus, a developing cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body with a developing roller at the tip. Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, in an image forming apparatus, it is known that a process cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body with a photosensitive member at the tip.

JP 2001-117350 A JP 2006-189737 A

  As the apparatus main body is further downsized, the space for mounting the developing cartridge and the process cartridge is also reduced. Therefore, there is a demand for a technique that can easily replace the developing cartridge and the process cartridge even in a narrow space. In particular, in the case where the developing roller is inserted into the apparatus main body with the developing roller at the leading end side, there is a possibility that the developing roller may come into contact with an adjacent developing cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body. This contact may damage the developing roller.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes further miniaturization.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge that reduce the possibility that the developing roller of the developing cartridge to be mounted contacts the member on the apparatus main body side when the developing cartridge is mounted in the developing cartridge mounting portion. Is to provide. Here, the member on the apparatus main body side is, for example, an outer wall provided in the apparatus main body and / or an adjacent cartridge and / or a cartridge mounting section already mounted on the cartridge mounting section.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge that reduce damage to the developing roller when the developing cartridge is replaced.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge that reduce the possibility that a photosensitive member of a process cartridge to be attached contacts a member on the apparatus main body side when the process cartridge is attached to a process cartridge attachment portion. Is to provide. Here, the member on the apparatus main body side is, for example, an outer wall provided in the apparatus main body and / or an adjacent cartridge and / or a cartridge mounting section already mounted on the cartridge mounting section.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge that reduce damage to the photosensitive member when the process cartridge is replaced.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a developer cartridge that is detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having a main body-side guide portion, the developer containing portion that contains the developer, and the developer. used, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, provided in the longitudinal direction of the one end and the other end of said developing roller, engaged with the main body side guide portion, wherein A developing cartridge side guide portion that regulates a movement locus of the developing cartridge, and the developing cartridge is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and and the developing roller at the tip is mounted, the developing cartridge side guide portion in the mounting direction, has a configuration that protrudes to the downstream side of the developing roller
Another invention relates to a cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes further miniaturization.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge that reduce a possibility that a developing roller included in a developing cartridge to be attached contacts a member on the apparatus main body side when the developing cartridge is attached to the developing cartridge attaching portion. Can be provided.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge that reduce damage to the developing roller when the developing cartridge is replaced.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the process cartridge is mounted in the process cartridge mounting portion, the image forming apparatus and the process that reduce the possibility that the photosensitive member of the process cartridge to be mounted contacts the member on the apparatus main body side. It is to provide a cartridge.
In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge that reduce damage to the photosensitive member when the process cartridge is replaced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a 4-pass electrophotographic image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a developing cartridge replacement method. The perspective view of a developing cartridge. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a developing cartridge and an apparatus main body. (B) is a figure which shows a guide groove. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a developing cartridge and a guide groove. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a protruding portion of a developing cartridge. FIG. 5B is a perspective view illustrating a second guide portion of the developing cartridge. The perspective view which shows the state which has a guide member in a protrusion position and a retracted position. The elements on larger scale of a development cartridge. The figure which shows a guide groove and a protrusion. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a guide member and a cam when a developing cartridge is mounted. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a guide member and a cam when a developing cartridge is taken out. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a one-pass electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The figure which shows the state which took out the tray member. The perspective view which shows a process guide groove and a development guide groove. (A) is a perspective view of a process cartridge. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the developing cartridge. The perspective view which shows the state at the time of mounting | wearing of a process cartridge and a developing cartridge. The figure which shows the state at the time of mounting | wearing of a process cartridge and a developing cartridge. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a protrusion of a process cartridge. (B) is a perspective view showing a second process cartridge guide of the process cartridge. The perspective view which shows a process cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a tray member.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. However, as long as there is no specific description, the shape of the component described in this Example, the relative arrangement thereof, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus]
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a four-pass image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) 1. A photosensitive unit (hereinafter referred to as a unit) 3 having an electrophotographic photosensitive belt (hereinafter referred to as a belt) 31 is disposed at the center of FIG. A charging roller (charging member) 4 and a scanner 2 as a latent image forming unit are disposed below the unit 3. Furthermore, a cassette 81 on which paper (sheets) 82 serving as recording media is stacked is disposed below. On the right side of the unit 3, a developing cartridge mounting portion 18 (see FIG. 5) for detachably mounting the developing cartridge 5 (5Y, 5M, 5C, 51K) having the developing roller 51 (developing member) (51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K). 1, FIG. 2) is arranged. In FIG. 1, a plurality of developing cartridges 5 that contain developers of different colors are mounted on the mounting portion 18. The mounting portion 18 is a space in which the cartridge 5 is detachably mounted. The cartridge 5 mounted on the mounting unit 18 is further pressed toward the unit 3 by the elastic force of a pressure spring (elastic member) 111 as a pressing member disposed on the right side. That is, the developing roller 51 is urged toward the belt 31. Accordingly, the cartridge 5 mounted on the mounting unit 18 is positioned at an image forming position where the developing roller 51 contacts the belt 31. A cleaning unit 6 having a cleaning blade (cleaning member) 61 that removes deposits attached to the belt 31 is disposed on the left side of the unit 3. Further, on the left side, a transport unit 8 for transporting paper (recording medium) 82 is arranged. On the other hand, a transfer unit 7 having a transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 71 to which a developer image (hereinafter referred to as a toner image) formed on the belt 31 is transferred is disposed above the unit 3. Further, a fixing unit 9 for fixing the toner image on the paper 82 is disposed above the fixing unit 9. The apparatus main body 1 is a configuration obtained by removing the configuration of the cartridge 5 from the image forming apparatus 200. The recording medium is an image on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 200, and includes, for example, paper, an OHP sheet, and the like.
Next, the configuration of each unit will be described in detail.

[Paper Feeder]
The sheet feeding unit 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The paper supply unit 8 conveys the paper 82 stacked on the cassette 81 toward the transfer unit 7. The feed roller 83 rotates according to the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 1 and feeds the paper 82 stacked and stored in the cassette 81 one by one. The registration roller 84 performs a non-rotation operation for causing the paper 82 to stand still and a rotation operation for transporting the paper 82 toward the transfer unit 7 in a predetermined sequence, so that the toner image and the paper 82 are transferred during the transfer process. Perform alignment. Immediately after the paper 82 is conveyed, the registration roller 84 stops rotating. After the formation of the toner image on the transfer belt 71 is completed, the roller 84 starts to rotate at a predetermined timing.

[Photosensitive unit]
Next, the photosensitive unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The unit 3 is opposed to the belt 31, the driving roller 32 that drives the belt 31, and the opposed roller 33 and the primary transfer roller 72 that are disposed at positions facing the developing rollers 51 (51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K) of the respective colors. The primary transfer counter roller 34 is disposed at the position. The belt 31 has a photosensitive layer made of an organic photoconductor on the surface of the belt 31, and is supported so as to be rotationally driven. The belt 31 is rotated counterclockwise by the driving roller 32 during rotation. During the image forming operation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the belt 31 that has been charged by the charging roller 4 by the laser light L emitted from the scanner 2 in accordance with the image information. In this embodiment, the belt 31 is used. However, the latent image carrier may be a so-called photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum has a photosensitive layer on the surface of a cylindrical cylinder.

[Developer cartridge]
Next, the developing cartridge 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The cartridge 5 rotates a developer accommodating portion (hereinafter referred to as a toner accommodating portion) 52 (52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K), a developing roller 51, and a developing roller 51 for accommodating a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner). A developing frame 53 (53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K) that supports the toner container 52 in a freely supported manner is provided. The developing roller 51 rotates in the clockwise direction during the image forming operation and carries (attaches) toner. The carried (attached) toner is developed in accordance with the electrostatic latent image on the belt 31 by applying a predetermined bias to the developing roller 51 at a portion where the developing roller 51 and the roller 33 face each other. As a result, a toner image is formed on the belt 31. Each color is developed one by one. When a full color image is formed, in this embodiment, toner images are formed in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. In the present embodiment, the four cartridges 5 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface (not shown) of the apparatus 200, and this is arranged according to the shape of the belt 31. For example, if the belt 31 is slanted, the four cartridges 5 may be disposed obliquely corresponding to this. Further, when a photosensitive drum is used instead of the belt 31, four cartridges are arranged in an arc shape in accordance with the shape of the photosensitive drum. The cartridge 5Y contains yellow toner in the toner containing portion 52Y, and forms a yellow toner image. The cartridge 5M contains magenta toner in the toner containing portion 52M, and forms a magenta toner image. The cartridge 5C contains cyan toner in the toner containing portion 52C, and forms a cyan toner image. The cartridge 5K contains black toner in the toner containing portion 52K, and forms a black toner image. Each cartridge 5 has the same configuration except for the color of the toner contained therein.

[Transfer section]
Next, the transfer unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer unit 7 includes a transfer belt 71, a primary transfer roller 72, a secondary transfer counter roller 73, a driving roller 74, a secondary transfer roller 75, and a transfer cleaner 76. During the image forming operation, the belt 71 is rotated clockwise by the roller 74. The toner on the belt 31 is transferred from the belt 31 to the transfer belt 71 by a predetermined bias applied to the transfer roller 72 in the primary transfer nip portion where the facing roller 34 and the transfer roller 72 face each other (primary transfer process). . This operation is repeated to form a full-color image on the transfer belt 71 by sequentially superimposing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images. The transfer roller 75 is separated from the transfer belt 71 while the primary transfer process is repeated. After the four color toner images are formed on the transfer belt 71, the transfer roller 75 moves toward the facing roller 73 at a predetermined timing and contacts the transfer belt 71. At this time, the paper 82 conveyed from the registration roller 84 is nipped at the secondary transfer nip portion between the transfer roller 75 and the counter roller 73, and a predetermined bias is applied to the transfer roller 75, so The toner image is transferred onto the paper 82 (secondary transfer step). The transfer cleaner 76 is separated from the transfer belt 71 while the primary transfer process is repeated. The cleaner 76 contacts the transfer belt 71 at a predetermined timing after the trailing edge of the toner image on the transfer belt 71 has passed after the start of the secondary transfer process. The residual toner that could not be transferred in the secondary transfer process is cleaned by the cleaner 76.

[Cleaning part]
The cleaning unit 6 includes a cleaning blade 61 (hereinafter referred to as a blade) and a waste toner container 62. The toner image formed on the belt 31 is transferred to the transfer belt 71 at the primary transfer nip portion between the facing roller 34 and the transfer roller 72. The residual toner that has not been transferred is cleaned by the blade 61. The collected residual toner is stored in a removed toner container (removed toner storage unit) 62.

[Fixing part]
The fixing unit 9 includes a heating roller 91 and a pressure roller 92. When the toner image transferred onto the paper 82 passes through the nip portion between the rollers 91 and 92, it is fixed at a predetermined temperature and pressure.

[Output section]
Then, the paper 82 on which the toner image is fixed is discharged out of the apparatus main body by the paper discharge roller 101 of the paper discharge unit 10 and is stacked on the stacking unit 102.

[Life of developer cartridge]
By repeating the image forming operation, the toner stored in the toner storage unit 52 is consumed. Further, the developing roller 51 is deteriorated by repeating the image forming operation. When the developing roller 51 is deteriorated, the quality of the image output by the image forming operation may deteriorate. That is, the developing cartridge 5 reaches the end of its life when the image forming operation is repeated a predetermined number of times. If the developing cartridge 5 is used beyond the lifetime, the image quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, when the image quality satisfactory for the user cannot be obtained, the cartridge 5 can be replaced with a new cartridge 5 to perform a good image forming operation.

[Guide material]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge 5. As shown in FIG. 3, a guide member 54 as a developing cartridge side guide portion is provided at one end and the other end of the developing roller 51 that is rotatably supported by the developing frame 53. In this embodiment, the guide member 54 may be formed directly on the frame 53 or may be a separate member. Further, a part of the developing roller 51 is exposed from the cartridge 5 (frame body 53). The guide member 54 extends along one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 5 (longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51) and along the short side direction of the cartridge 5 (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51). It is provided outside the frame 53. The shaft 51a of the developing roller 51 is rotatably supported by the guide member 54 (frame body 53). The guide member 54 has a protruding portion 54a extending in the mounting direction X for mounting the cartridge 5 on the apparatus main body 1 (cartridge mounting portion 18). The protruding portion 54 a protrudes in the mounting direction X from the developing roller 51. That is, the protruding portion 54 a protrudes downstream in the mounting direction X from the tip 51 a of the developing roller 51. The mounting direction X is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the developing roller 51. The tip 51 a is a portion along the longitudinal direction on the most downstream side of the developing roller 51 in the mounting direction X.

[Developer cartridge replacement]
Next, the replacement work of the cartridge 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of cartridges 5 open the opening / closing cover (opening / closing member) 11 provided in the apparatus main body 1, with the developing roller 51 at the tip, and the cartridge mounting portion 18 (18 Y, 18 M, 18 C, 18 K). ) Is detachably mounted. The cover 11 rotates around the hinge 11a. The cartridge mounting portion 18 is provided in the apparatus main body 1. The cartridges 5 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion 18 in the vertical direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with guide grooves (main body side guide portions) 12 (12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K). The guide groove 12 regulates the movement locus of the cartridge 5 when the user mounts the cartridge 5 on the apparatus main body 1 (mounting portion 18). Further, the guide groove 12 regulates the movement locus of the cartridge 5 when the user removes the cartridge 5 from the apparatus main body 1 (mounting portion 18). The guide groove 12 is provided on the inner wall 1 a of the apparatus main body 1. That is, the guide groove 12 is provided in the mounting portion 18 so as to face each other on one end side and the other end side in the direction intersecting the mounting direction X. As shown in FIG. 4B, the guide groove 12 is shaped to engage with the guide member 54 when the cartridge 5 is mounted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the width h in the height direction of the guide member 54 is set to be narrower than the width H in the height direction of the developing device frame 53 (cartridge 5). However, the width h may be set to the same width as the width H of the developing frame 53 in the height direction. In this case, the developing frame 53 can have a function as a guide member.
The movement trajectory means that after the guide member (cartridge side guide portion) 54 is engaged with the guide groove (main body side guide portion) 12, the cartridge 5 reaches the mounting portion 18 (mounting position for image formation). It is a movement route until. In the present embodiment, the main body side guide portion is the groove 12. The cartridge-side guide portion is a guide member 54 that is elongated along the mounting direction in which the cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 and protrudes outward from the frame 53. Accordingly, the cartridge 5 is guided to the predetermined mounting portion 18 in a state where the guide member 54 is restricted in the vertical direction by the guide groove 12, that is, in a state where the movement locus thereof is restricted. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the cartridge side guide portion may be a groove, and the main body side guide portion may be a protruding portion. Even in this case, the cartridge 5 is guided to the predetermined mounting portion 18 in a state where the top and bottom thereof are restricted, that is, in a state where the movement locus thereof is restricted. Further, for example, the cartridge side guide portion may be a protruding portion, and the main body side guide portion may be a protruding portion. In this case, the cartridge 5 is guided to the predetermined mounting portion 18 in a state where the protruding portion as the cartridge side guide portion is supported by the protruding portion as the main body side guide portion. In such a case, the cartridge 5 is guided to the predetermined mounting portion 18 in a state where the downward movement is restricted, that is, in a state where the movement locus is restricted. The same applies to the embodiments described later. The frame 53 (53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K) is an outer wall of the cartridge 53.

Hereinafter, the mounting method of the cartridge 5M will be described as an example with reference to FIGS. Since the same applies to the other cartridges 5, description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the cartridge 5M is mounted, the cartridge 5Y and 5C adjacent to the apparatus body 1 are already mounted on the apparatus body 1 (mounting portion 18). Therefore, the cartridge 5M is mounted toward the cartridge 5Y (frame 53Y), the cartridge 5C (frame 53C), and the opening 1b provided in the outer wall 1c of the apparatus body 1 (FIG. 4). First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the developing roller 51M is used as the tip of the cartridge 5M, the guide member 54M and the guide groove 12M are aligned, and the cartridge 5M is moved toward the opening 1b. According to the present embodiment, when the alignment is not completed, the tip of the guide member 54M is attached to the outer wall 1c of the apparatus main body 1 or the adjacent cartridges 5Y and 5C (frame bodies 53Y and 53C) that are already mounted. Contact. Therefore, the cartridge 5M cannot be moved further in the mounting direction X. The guide member 54M projects forward in the mounting direction X (downstream in the mounting direction) from the tip 51a of the developing roller 51M. Therefore, the developing roller 51M is not brought into contact with the outer wall 1c of the apparatus main body 1 and the cartridges 5Y and 5C. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the developing roller 51M from being damaged. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the cartridge 5M is to be mounted on the apparatus main body 1 in a state where the above-described alignment is not performed, the developing roller 51M is prevented from coming into contact with a member on the main body 1 side. The guide member 54M is provided with a projecting length that allows the projection. The guide member 54M is provided at a position where one end side and the other end side of the developing roller 51M can prevent the developing roller 51M from contacting a member on the main body 1 side. Here, the member on the apparatus main body 1 side is, for example, an inner wall 1a, an outer wall 1c provided in the apparatus main body 1 and / or an adjacent cartridge and / or a cartridge mounting portion 18 already mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 18 or the like. It is. The other cartridges 5 have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the cartridge 5M is inserted into the opening 1b, the guide member 54M and the guide groove 12M are first engaged. In this state, the cartridge 5M is further inserted toward the back of the apparatus main body 1. When the developing roller 51M reaches the opening 1b, the movement trajectory when the cartridge 5M is mounted is restricted by the engagement between the guide member 54M and the guide groove 12M. Further, the cartridge 5M is moved toward the back of the apparatus main body 1. Thus, the developing roller 51M can be mounted on the mounting portion 18M without contacting the adjacent cartridge 5Y (frame body 53Y) or cartridge 5C (frame body 53C). When removing the cartridge 5M from the apparatus main body 1, an operation opposite to this operation may be performed.

  While the developing roller 51M passes through the opening 1b, the guide member 54M and the guide groove 12M are engaged. Therefore, when the cartridge 5M is removed from the apparatus main body 1, the developing roller 51M is not brought into contact with the inner wall 1a or the cartridges 5Y and 5C (frame bodies 53Y and 53C). Therefore, damage to the developing roller 51M can be prevented. Further, even when the toner adheres to the surface of the developing roller 51M, it is possible to prevent the cartridges 5Y and 5C (frame bodies 53Y and 53C) from being stained with toner.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus 200, even if the opening 1b is reduced, the developing roller 51 is damaged or the surroundings are stained with toner. There is nothing. Therefore, the cartridge 5 can be exchanged smoothly.

  In this embodiment, the guide member 54 has a protruding portion 54 a that protrudes forward in the mounting direction X (downstream in the mounting direction X) with respect to the developing roller 51. However, as shown in FIG. 6A, the protruding portion 55 may be provided on the cartridge 5 (frame body 53). The projecting portion 55 is disposed so as to project downstream from the developing roller 51 in the mounting direction X (forward in the mounting direction X). When the cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 (mounting portion 18), the cartridge 5 is in a state where the guide groove (main body side guide portion) 12 and the guide member (first developing cartridge side guide portion) 54 are not positioned. Even if it is intended to be inserted into the apparatus main body 1, the protruding portion 55 comes into contact with the inner wall 1a, the outer wall 1c and the adjacent cartridge of the apparatus main body. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the developing roller 51 from being damaged and the toner from dropping from the developing roller 51 in advance. Further, the protrusion 55 may be provided with a guide function that engages with the guide groove 12 and regulates the movement trajectory of the cartridge 5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the guide member 54 is provided with a second guide portion 54a as a protruding portion protruding further downstream (frontward) in the mounting direction X than the tip 51a of the developing roller 51. It may be provided. For example, the frame 53 may be provided with protruding portions (second developing cartridge side guide portions) 54 a at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 54 a is integral with the guide member 54, but the protrusion 54 a may be provided separately from the guide member 54 as shown in FIG. In these embodiments, the protrusion 54 a engages with the guide groove (main body side guide portion) 12 and functions as a second guide portion for guiding the cartridge 5.
It should be noted that the protrusion length at which the protrusion 54a protrudes downstream (forward) in the mounting direction X from the tip 51a and the width h of the protrusion 54a may be appropriately determined in consideration of the curvature of the developing roller 51, for example.

  Next, Example 2 will be described. In this embodiment, the guide member (developing cartridge side guide portion) 56 of the cartridge 5 is movable. Since the configuration of the apparatus main body is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

[Development frame]
As shown in FIG. 8, the frame 53 is provided with a developing bias electrical contact (hereinafter referred to as a developing electrode) 532 that is an electrical contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing roller 51 from the apparatus main body 1. It has been. Note that the frame 53 integrally includes (supports) the developing roller 51 and the toner storage portion 52. The guide member (developing cartridge side guide portion) 56 engages with the guide groove (main body side guide portion) 12 when the cartridge 5 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1 to restrict the movement locus of the cartridge 5. Further, the frame 53 is provided with a lock hole 531 which is a part of a locking member for locking the guide member 56 at the retracted position P2. The lock hole 531 is provided on the upstream side of the guide member 56 in the mounting direction X.

[Guide material]
As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 56 is movable along the mounting direction X direction. Here, the mounting direction X direction is a short direction of the cartridge 5 and a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51. 7A shows a state in which the guide member 56 protrudes downstream in the mounting direction X direction from the tip 51a of the developing roller 51 (hereinafter referred to as a protruding position P1), and FIG. The front end of the developing roller 51 is retracted to the upstream side in the mounting direction X from the front end 51a of the developing roller 51 (hereinafter referred to as a retracted position P2). As shown in FIG. 8, the guide member 56 is provided with a guide cam 561, a cam spring (elastic member) 562, and a guide spring (elastic member) 563 that is a biasing member of the guide member 56. As shown in FIG. 8, when the guide member 56 is in the protruding position P <b> 1, the developing electrode 532 is covered with the cover portion 56 a of the guide member 56. Thereby, the electrode 532 is in a protected state. The cover part 56a functions as a protruding part. When the cartridge 5 is outside the apparatus main body 1, the guide member 56 is in the protruding position P1. When the guide member 56 is in the protruding position P1, the protruding portion 56a as the cover portion protrudes downstream in the mounting direction X from the tip 51a of the developing roller 51. The guide cam 561 is supported to be swingable about the rotation center 561a, and is biased counterclockwise by the elastic force of the spring 562. One end of the spring 563 is coupled to the one end spring mounting portion 53 a of the developing device frame 53, and the other end of the spring 563 is coupled to the other end spring mounting portion 56 b of the guide member 56. The guide member 56 is elastically biased by the elastic force of the spring 563 from the retracted position P2 toward the protruding position P1. The cam 561 is provided with a first contact portion 561b, a second contact portion (locking portion) 561c, and a third contact portion (lock release portion) 561d. As shown in FIG. 8, when the guide member 56 is at the protruding position P <b> 1, the second contact portion 561 c is in contact with the wall surface 53 b of the developing device frame 53. Therefore, even if the elastic force (biasing force) of the spring 562 is applied, the cam 561 can no longer swing counterclockwise. However, when the guide member 56 moves to the retracted position P2 as shown in FIG. 7B, the second contact portion 561c is pulled into the lock hole 531. The cam 561 can swing counterclockwise by the elastic force of the spring 562. In a state where the second contact portion 561c is engaged with the lock hole 531, the guide member 56 is locked at the retracted position P2. When the cam 561 is swung clockwise from this state and the engagement between the second contact portion 561c and the lock hole 531 is released, the locking of the guide member 56 is released. Then, due to the elastic force of the spring 563, the guide member 56 moves from the retracted position P2 to the protruding position P1. That is, the guide member 56 is movably provided from the protruding position P1 to the retracted position P2, and is biased to the protruding position P1 by the elastic force of the spring 563. Further, the cam 561, the spring 562, and the lock hole 531 make it possible to lock the guide member 56 at the retracted position P2 and to release the lock. Furthermore, the electrode 532 is protected by the cover portion 56a of the guide member 56 when the guide member 56 is located at the protruding position P1 as shown in FIG. When the guide member 56 is at the retracted position P2 as shown in FIG. 7B, the developing electrode 532 is configured to be exposed from the cover portion 56a.

[Guide groove]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the guide groove 12 is provided with a protrusion 121 that is an engaging portion that engages with the guide cam 561. Further, the guide groove 12 is provided with an electric contact (main electric contact) 122 on the apparatus main body side that applies a predetermined bias to the developing roller 51.

[Operation of guide member during mounting]
Next, operations of the guide member 56 and the guide cam 561 when the cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 (mounting portion 18) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the cartridge 5 starts to be mounted, and the mounting operation proceeds as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, and FIG. ) Is a state in which the mounting operation is completed.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the guide member 56 and the guide groove 12 of the apparatus main body 1 are aligned and inserted into the apparatus main body 1. At this time, since the electrode 532 is covered with the cover portion 56a of the guide member 56, it is protected. Further, the insertion is advanced to the mounting portion 18 of the cartridge 5, and when the state shown in FIG. 10B is reached, the first contact portion 561b (contacted portion) of the cam 561 and the protrusion 121 provided in the guide groove 12 are provided. The abutting portion 121b abuts. At this time, since the cam 561 is supported so as to be able to swing, a moment is generated in the counterclockwise direction. However, the second contact portion 561c of the cam 561 contacts the wall surface 53b of the developing device frame 53. Therefore, the cam 561 cannot rotate. Accordingly, when the cartridge 5 is inserted into the mounting portion 18 as it is, the guide member 56 remains stationary in this state, and other portions of the cartridge 5 enter. When the state shown in FIG. 10C is reached, the second contact portion 561 c is drawn into the lock hole 531 provided in the developing device frame 53. Then, the cam 561 rotates counterclockwise and changes from a two-dot chain line state shown in FIG. 10C to a solid line state. At this time, the first contact portion 561b is released from the contact portion 121b of the protrusion 121 of the guide groove 12. However, the guide member 56 is locked at this position by the cam 561. At this time, the guide member 56 has finished moving to the retracted position, and the electrode 532 is exposed from the cover portion 56a of the guide member 56. If the cartridge 5 is mounted in the mounting portion 18 as it is, the electrode (cartridge side electrical contact) 532 and the electrical contact (main body side electrical contact) 122 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the mounting operation of the cartridge 5 is completed by closing the cover 11. At this time, the cartridge 5 is pressed in the direction of the belt 31 by the elastic force of the pressure spring (elastic member) 111. However, as described in the present embodiment, since the guide member 56 is locked at the retracted position, the urging force for urging the guide member 56 in the protruding position direction by the elastic force of the spring 563 is the developing roller 51. It does not hang. Therefore, the developing roller 51 can be pressed against the belt 31 with an appropriate pressure by the elastic force of the spring 111.

[Operation of guide section when removing]
Next, the operation of the guide member 56 and the cam 561 when the cartridge 5 is taken out from the main body 1 (mounting portion 18) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the cartridge 5 is taken out from the main body 1 as proceeding to FIGS. 11 (A), (B), (C), and (D). First, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 11 is opened and the cartridge 5 is pulled out from the main body 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11A, the guide member 56 is pulled out while being locked at the retracted position. Then, as shown in FIG. 11A, the third contact portion (lock release portion) 561d of the cam 561 contacts the slope (engagement portion) 121a of the protrusion 121. Further, when the cartridge 5 is pulled out from the main body 1 (mounting portion 18), as shown in FIG. The cam 561 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the second contact portion 561c comes out of the lock hole 531. That is, at this moment, the guide member 56 is released from the state locked at the retracted position. That is, the third contact portion (lock release portion) 561d engages with an inclined surface (engagement portion) 121a provided in the guide groove (main body side guide portion) 12 when the cartridge 5 is taken out from the mounting portion 18. Then, the locking of the second contact portion (locking portion) 561c is released. Therefore, the guide member 56 moves toward the protruding position by the elastic force of the spring 563. Then, as shown in FIG. 11C, the first contact portion 561c of the cam 561 moves to a position where it contacts the contact portion 121b of the protrusion 121. Further, as shown in FIG. 11D, when the cartridge 5 is pulled out, the guide member 56 moves to the protruding position by the elastic force of the spring 563. The cover part 56 a of the guide member 56 covers the electrode 532. The movement path of the cartridge 5 is regulated by the engagement between the guide member 56 and the guide groove 12. Therefore, the cartridge 5 can be removed from the main body 1 without bringing the developing roller 51 into contact with the adjacent cartridge 5 or the like.

In the first embodiment described above, the guide member 54 is a fixed type. Therefore, when the cartridge 5 is mounted on the main body 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the tip of the guide member 54, that is, the protruding portion 54 a enters the side surface of the unit 3. On the other hand, when the cartridge 5 is completely attached to the main body 1 as in this embodiment, the guide member 56 is retracted to the retracted position P2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, a driving unit for driving the unit 3 and an electrode for applying a bias can be arranged in this portion. Therefore, further downsizing of the entire apparatus can be achieved.
That is, according to the present embodiment, when the cartridge 5 is to be mounted on the apparatus main body 1 in a state where the above-described alignment is not possible, the developing roller 51 is prevented from contacting a member on the main body 1 side. The guide member 56 is provided with a protruding length that can be The guide member 56 is provided at a position where one end side and the other end side of the developing roller 51 can prevent the developing roller 51 from contacting a member on the main body 1 side. Here, the member on the apparatus main body 1 refers to, for example, the inner wall 1a, the outer wall 1c provided in the apparatus main body 1 and / or the adjacent cartridge and / or the cartridge mounting section 18 already mounted on the cartridge mounting section 18. It is.

This embodiment relates to a one-pass color electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The one-pass image forming apparatus has image forming units corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, and forms a color image by sequentially superimposing these colors. Compared to the 4-pass image forming apparatus described in the first and second embodiments, the 1-pass image forming apparatus has an advantage that a color image can be output at high speed.
Next, Example 3 will be described. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first and second embodiments described above have the same functions, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus]
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body) 100 of this embodiment. Four electrophotographic photosensitive drums (hereinafter referred to as drums) 310 (310Y, 310M, 310C, 310K) are arranged in parallel at the center of the apparatus main body 100. A cartridge 50 (50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K) containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners is detachably mounted on each drum 310. The apparatus main body 100 is configured by removing the cartridges 30 and 50 from the image forming apparatus 300. The scanner unit 20 is disposed above the drums 310, and each drum 310 is irradiated with laser beams LY, LM, LC, and LK for forming an electrostatic latent image. A transfer unit 70 is disposed below the drum 310, and a cassette 81 that houses a paper 82 that is a recording medium is further disposed below the transfer unit 70.
Hereinafter, although each part will be described in detail, in the present embodiment, the paper feed unit 8, the fixing unit 9, and the paper discharge unit 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

[Process cartridge]
The process cartridge 30 (30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K) includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 310, a charging member 40 that is a process unit that acts on the drum 310, and a cleaning member 610 that includes a process frame 301 (301Y, 301M, 301C, 301K). Further, the cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment includes the removed toner storage portion 620 that stores the toner removed from the drum 310 by the cleaning member 610. The drum 310 has a photosensitive layer made of an organic photoconductor on the surface of a cylindrical cylinder, is rotatably supported by the process frame 301, and is driven to rotate clockwise when driven.

[Developer cartridge]
The developing cartridge 50 (50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K) can freely rotate a toner container 520 that stores yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner, a developing roller 51 that is a developing unit, and a developing roller 51, respectively. And a developing frame 530 that integrates the toner container 520. The cartridge 50Y accommodates yellow toner in the toner accommodating portion 520. The cartridge 50M stores magenta toner in the toner storage unit 520. The cartridge 50 </ b> C stores cyan toner in the toner storage unit 520. The cartridge 50K stores black toner in the toner storage portion 520.

[Transfer section]
The transfer unit 70 includes a transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 710, a primary transfer roller 720, a secondary transfer counter roller 730, a transfer driving roller 740, and a secondary transfer roller 750.

[Cartridge replacement]
Next, replacement of the cartridge 30 and the cartridge 50 will be described. The drum 310, the charging member (process means) 40, and the cleaning member (process means) 610 included in the cartridge 30 deteriorate each time the image forming operation is repeated. Further, if the toner container 520 collects a predetermined amount of removed toner, it cannot collect more toner. That is, the cartridge 30 reaches the end of its life when the image forming operation is repeated a predetermined number of times. In other words, it becomes impossible to form an image with a quality satisfactory for the user. Therefore, when the cartridge 30 reaches a predetermined life, it can be replaced with a new one, so that a good image forming operation can be performed. Similarly, when the cartridge 50 reaches the end of its life due to deterioration of the developing roller 51 or consumption of the toner stored in the toner storage portion 520, the cartridge 50 needs to be replaced with a new one.

[Tray material]
The cartridge 30 and the cartridge 50 are detachably mounted on the tray 13 which is a cartridge mounting portion of both the cartridges 30 and 50. The tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13 is a process cartridge mounting portion and a developing cartridge mounting portion (cartridge mounting portion). That is, both cartridges 30 and 50 are supported by the tray 13. The tray 13 is alternately provided with a mounting portion 13 a for removably mounting the cartridge 30 and a mounting portion 13 b for removably mounting the cartridge 50 along the longitudinal direction of the tray 13. In order to replace both cartridges 30 and 50, as shown in FIG. 13, the cover 110 is opened and the tray 13 is taken out from the apparatus main body 100. Then, the cartridges 30 and 50 are replaced while the tray 13 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 100. FIG. 14 shows a state in which the tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 100. In this state, the cartridges 30 and 50 are attached to and detached from the tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13. The tray 13 may be detached from the apparatus main body 100 when the paper 82 jammed in the apparatus main body 100 is taken out from the apparatus main body 100 (FIG. 14). In this case, a stopper (not shown) that restricts the tray 13 from being pulled out by a predetermined amount or more from the apparatus main body 100 is released. As described above, the apparatus main body 100 is configured by removing the cartridges 30 and 50 from the image forming apparatus 300, and the tray 13 is also included in the apparatus main body 100.
FIG. 14 shows a state in which the tray 13 is removed from the apparatus main body 100 and all the cartridges 30 and 50 mounted on the tray 13 are removed. On the inner wall of the side plate 131 of the tray 13, a guide groove (main body side guide portion) 132 that is a main body side (tray side) guide for restricting the movement trajectory of the cartridge 30 when the cartridge 30 is attached to and detached from the tray 13. When the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the tray 13, a guide groove (main body side guide portion) 133 that is a main body side (tray side) guide that restricts the movement trajectory of the cartridge 50 is provided. The cartridge 30 is guided in the guide groove 132 when being attached to and detached from the tray 13. When being attached to and detached from the cartridge 50 and the tray 13, the cartridge is guided by the guide groove 133.

[Process cartridge side guide]
FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the cartridge 30. The cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow α with the drum 310 exposed. The mounting direction α is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the drum 310. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the process frame 301, as shown in FIG. 15A, when the cartridge 30 is attached or detached, a process cartridge side guide portion that engages with the guide groove 132 and regulates the movement trajectory of the cartridge 30. A guide 320 is provided. Further, the guide 320 (first process cartridge side guide portion) has a protruding portion (second process cartridge side guide portion) 320a protruding from the tip 310a of the drum 310 at the tip end in the mounting direction α. .

[Developing cartridge side guide]
FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the cartridge 50. The cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow β with the developing roller 51 exposed. The mounting direction β is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51. At one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the developing device frame 530, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the tray 13, the guide groove 133 is engaged to restrict the movement trajectory of the cartridge 50. A guide 540 serving as a developing cartridge side guide is provided. Further, a protrusion 540 a that protrudes downstream of the tip 51 a of the developing roller 51 in the mounting direction β is provided at the tip of the guide 540 in the mounting direction β.

[Installation of cartridge to tray]
Next, a mounting method for mounting the cartridges 30 and 50 on the tray 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this description, the cartridge to be replaced is the cartridge 30M corresponding to the cartridge 50M, and the cartridge to be replaced is the cyan developing cartridge 50C. The cartridge 30 and the cartridge 50 can be replaced independently. Accordingly, the cartridges 30Y, 30C, and 30K that do not need to be replaced and the cartridges 50Y, 50M, and 50K are already mounted on the tray member 13.

As shown in FIG. 16, the guide groove 132M provided in the side plate 131 of the tray 13 is provided to receive the process cartridge side guide 320M. The guide groove 133C is provided so as to receive the developing cartridge side guide 540C. As shown in FIG. 17, the cartridge 30M is mounted in the direction of the arrow α with the drum 310M facing downward from above the tray 13. First, the guide 320M and the guide groove 132M are aligned, and then the cartridge 30M is inserted into the tray 13. When this position is not present, the protrusion 320a of the guide 320M and the side plate 131 are in contact with each other. Therefore, the cartridge 30M cannot be inserted any further. At this time, the protruding portion 320a of the guide 320M protrudes further downstream in the mounting direction α than the tip 310a of the drum 310M. Therefore, the drum 310M does not come into contact with the tray 13 to damage the drum 310M. When the positions of the guide 320M and the guide groove 132M are aligned and the cartridge 30M is inserted into the tray 13, the movement trajectory when the cartridge 30M is mounted is regulated by the engagement of the guide 320M and the guide groove 132M. That is, when the drum 310M passes through the developing frame bodies 530Y and 530M adjacent to the drum 310M and the opening 131a provided in the side plate 131 of the tray 13, the mounting locus of the cartridge 30M is already restricted. Therefore, it is possible to mount the tray 13 without damaging the drum 310M. The cartridge 50C is mounted in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow β toward the opening 131b formed by the process frame 301C, the process frame 301K, and the side plate 131. At this time, as described in the cartridge mounting method, when the developing roller 51C passes through the opening 131b, the movement locus of the cartridge 50C is regulated by the engagement between the guide 540C and the guide groove 133C. Therefore, the cartridge 50C can be mounted on the tray 13 without causing the developing roller 51C to come into contact with the tray 13 or the like to be damaged. When removing the cartridge 30M and the cartridge 50C from the tray 13, respectively, the operation opposite to the mounting operation described above may be performed. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user pushes the tray 13 into the main body 100 while the cartridges 30 and 50 are supported (mounted) on the tray 13, the cartridges 30 and 50 are Attached to the image forming position of the apparatus main body 100. Further, when the user pulls out the tray 13 from the main body 100 while the cartridges 30 and 50 are supported on the tray 13, the cartridges 30 and 50 can be taken out from the apparatus main body 100. A known configuration can be appropriately applied to the configuration in which the cartridges 30 and 50 are positioned at the image forming position of the apparatus main body 100 by pushing the tray 13 into the main body 100.
In this embodiment, the main body side guide portions are guide grooves 132 and 133 provided in the side plate 131 of the tray 13. The cartridge-side guide portions are guide members 320 and 540 that are elongated along the mounting directions α and β for mounting the cartridges 30 and 50 on the tray 13 and project outward from the frame bodies 301 and 530. . Accordingly, the cartridges 30 and 540 are in a state in which the guide members 320 and 540 are regulated by the guide grooves 132 and 133 on the upstream side and the downstream side in the pull-out direction of the tray 13, that is, in a state where the movement trajectory is regulated. Guided to predetermined mounting portions 13a and 13b. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the cartridge side guide portion may be a groove, and the main body side guide portion may be a protruding portion. Even in this case, the cartridges 30 and 50 are guided to the predetermined mounting portions 13a and 13b in a state where the upstream side and the downstream side in the pull-out direction are restricted, that is, in a state where the movement trajectory is restricted. The Further, for example, the cartridge side guide portion may be a protruding portion, and the main body side guide portion may be a protruding portion. In this case, the cartridges 30 and 50 are guided by the predetermined mounting portions 13a and 13b in a state where the protruding portion as the cartridge side guide portion is supported by the protruding portion as the main body side guide portion. In such a case, the cartridges 30 and 50 are in a state in which the movement to either the upstream side or the downstream side in the pull-out direction is restricted, that is, in a state where the movement trajectory is restricted, the predetermined mounting portion Guided to 13a and 13b.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the one-pass image forming apparatus, when the cartridge 30 in which the drum and the process unit acting on the drum are integrated is attached to and detached from the tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13. When the drum moves in the tray 13, the movement trajectory of the cartridge 30 is restricted. For this reason, the cartridge 30 can be replaced without bringing the drum into contact with the tray 13 and damaging it.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the protruding portion 320a of the guide 320 protrudes on the downstream side in the mounting direction α from the tip 310a of the drum 310 has been described. However, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 330 may be provided on the process frame 301 of the cartridge 30 as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 18A, the protruding portion 320a is arranged so that the protruding portion 330 protrudes from the drum 310 in the mounting direction α. When the cartridge 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the guide groove 132 and the process cartridge guide 320 which is the first process cartridge side guide portion are not positioned, and the cartridge 30 protrudes even if it is inserted into the tray 13 (apparatus main body 1). Since the part 330 contacts the inner wall of the apparatus main body 100 or a process cartridge or a developing cartridge mounted adjacent thereto, damage to the photosensitive drum can be prevented. Further, the protruding portion (second process cartridge side guide portion) 330 may be engaged with the process cartridge guide groove 132 to have a guide function for regulating the movement trajectory of the process cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. 18B, the process cartridge guide 320 as the first process cartridge side guide portion is provided with a second process cartridge side guide portion 320a as a protruding portion that protrudes further in the mounting direction α from the drum 310. May be provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15A, the protrusion 320a is integrated with the process cartridge guide 320, but the protrusion 320a is provided separately from the process cartridge guide 320 as shown in FIG. May be. The protruding part 320a has a function as a second guide part for guiding the process cartridge. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the cartridge 30 is to be mounted on the tray 13 in a state where the above-described alignment is not possible, the drum 310 is prevented from coming into contact with the tray 13 (member on the main body 1 side). A guide member 320 (320a) is provided with a protruding length that can be set. And the guide member 320 (320a) is provided in the position which can prevent the drum 310 contacting the member by the side of the main body 1 by the one end side and other end side of the drum 310. FIG. Here, the member on the apparatus main body 1 is, for example, a tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13 provided in the apparatus main body 1. Further, when the cartridge 50 is to be mounted on the tray 13, the guide 540 (540a) is provided with a protruding length that can prevent the developing roller 51 from coming into contact with the tray 13 (member on the main body 1 side). It has been. The guide member 540 (540a) is provided at one end side and the other end side of the developing roller 51 at a position where the developing roller 51 can be prevented from contacting a member on the main body 1 side. Here, the member on the apparatus main body 1 is, for example, a tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13 provided in the apparatus main body 1.

  Further, in the configuration shown in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the guide member may be movable from the protruding position to the retracted position as shown in the second embodiment, and further a locking portion may be provided. As shown in FIG. 19, the tray (cartridge mounting portion) 13 is a process cartridge mounting portion and a developing cartridge mounting portion (cartridge mounting portion). The plurality of cartridges 30 can be attached to and detached from the process cartridge mounting portion 13a of the tray 13 in the horizontal direction. The cartridge 30 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 13a with the photosensitive drum 310 at the tip. The plurality of developing cartridges 50 are detachable from the developing cartridge mounting portion 13b of the tray 13 in the horizontal direction. The cartridge 50 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 13b with the developing roller 51 at the tip. The tray 13 is provided with mounting portions 13 a and mounting portions 13 b alternately along the longitudinal direction of the tray 13. The guide groove (main body side guide portion) 132 (132Y, 132M, 132C, 132K) provided on the inner wall of the tray 13 has a protrusion 1321 (1321Y, 1321M, 1321C, 1321K) that functions as a contact portion and an engagement portion. The guide grooves 133 (main body side guide portions) (133Y, 133M, 133C, 133K) are provided with projections 1331 (1331Y, 1331M, 1331C, 1331K) that function as contact portions and engagement portions.

Hereinafter, the cartridge 30M will be described. The other cartridges have the same configuration and will not be described. A cam 341M is provided in the process cartridge side guide portion 340M provided at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction of the drum 310) of the cartridge 30M which is the process cartridge side guide portion. The guide portion 340M projects so as to be retractable downstream from the tip 310a of the drum 310 in the mounting direction in which the cartridge 30M is mounted on the mounting portion 13a of the tray 13. The cam 341M is a locking portion that locks the guide portion 340M when the guide portion 340M moves to the retracted position. The process frame 301 is provided with a lock hole 3011M with which the cam 341M is engaged. Further, in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 8 of the second embodiment, the cartridge 30 includes a guide spring (elastic member) (not shown) that biases the guide 340M in the protruding position direction, and a cam spring (biased) that biases the cam 341M in the rotation direction. Elastic member) (not shown).
The developing cartridge 50C will be described below. The other cartridges have the same configuration and will not be described. A developing cartridge side guide 550C provided at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 50C (longitudinal direction of the developing roller 51) is provided with a cam 551C. The cam 551C is a locking portion that locks the guide 550C when the guide 550C moves to the retracted position. The developing device frame 530C is provided with a lock hole 5301C with which the cam 551C is engaged. Similarly to the one shown in FIG. 8 of the second embodiment, a guide spring (elastic member) (not shown) that biases the developing cartridge guide 550C toward the protruding position, and a cam spring (elastic member) that biases the cam 551 in the rotation direction. ) (Not shown). Since the explanation regarding these operations is the same as that of the second embodiment, the explanation is omitted.

Since the cartridge 30 has such a configuration, the guide portion 340 can be moved to the retracted position when the cartridge 30 is mounted. Similarly, when the cartridge 50 is mounted on the tray 13, the guide portion 550 can be moved to the retracted position. Therefore, the guide grooves 132 and the guide grooves 133 provided in the tray 13 can be shortened in length compared to the guide grooves shown in the third embodiment. Therefore, the tray 13 can be reduced in size. Further, a pressing member (elastic member) (not shown) for pressing the cartridge 30 against the transfer belt 710 may be provided. The pressing member presses the cartridge 30 so that the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 310 faces the transfer belt 710 that transfers the developer image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Thus, when the cartridge 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the pressing force that the drum 310 presses against the transfer belt is properly maintained. Further, when the cartridge 30 is pressed by the pressing member, the guide portion 340 is locked at the retracted position by the cam (locking portion) 341.
Also in this embodiment, the arrangement of the guide members, the protruding length, etc. may be determined in the same manner as in the above-described third embodiment.

1, 100 ... electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
5, 50 ... developing cartridge,
12, 132, 133 ... guide groove (main body side guide part),
13 ... Tray member (process cartridge mounting part),
18: Development cartridge mounting portion,
30 ... Process cartridge,
31 ... Photoreceptor belt (photoreceptor),
51 ... Developing roller,
52, 520 ... Toner container (developer container),
54, 56, 540, 550... Guide member (developing cartridge side guide portion),
54a, 55, 56a, 320a, 540a ... projection,
310 ... photosensitive drum (photoconductor),
320, 340... Process cartridge guide (process cartridge side guide section)

Claims (6)

In the developing cartridge that is detachably attached to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having the main body side guide portion,
A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member using the developer;
Provided the longitudinal direction of the one end and the other end of said developing roller, and the body side guide portion engaged with and restricting the movement locus of the developing cartridge developing cartridge side guide portion,
Have
The developing cartridge is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and mounted with the developing roller as a tip,
The developing cartridge side guide portion is provided so as to protrude downstream from the developing roller in the mounting direction. 2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a length of the developing cartridge side guide portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction when viewed from the longitudinal direction is smaller than a diameter of the developing roller. In the cartridge detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the main body side guide portion,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Said provided the longitudinal direction of the one end and the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, engages with the body side guide portion, the cartridge-side guide portion for regulating the movement locus of the cartridge,
Have
The cartridge is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and mounted with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum as a tip,
The cartridge, wherein the cartridge-side guide portion is provided so as to protrude downstream from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the mounting direction. 4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein when viewed from the longitudinal direction, a length of the cartridge side guide portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is smaller than a diameter of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main body side guide portion and mounted with the developing cartridge according to claim 1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main body side guide portion and mounted with the cartridge according to claim 3.

Images