JP6849753B2 - Cartridge and image forming device using it - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the same, and is suitable for an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (LED printer, laser beam printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

In the image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is generally a drum type as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive member drum is uniformly charged. Next, an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on the photoconductor drum by selectively exposing the charged photoconductor drum. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum is developed as a toner image with toner as a developer. Then, the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum is transferred to a recording material such as recording paper or a plastic sheet, and heat or pressure is applied to the toner image transferred on the recording material to record the toner image. Image recording is performed by fixing to.

Such an image forming apparatus generally requires toner replenishment and maintenance of various process means. In order to facilitate this toner replenishment and maintenance, a photoconductor drum, charging means, developing means, cleaning means, etc. are collectively made into a cartridge in the frame, and a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body is put into practical use. Has been done.

Here, the process cartridge is a cartridge that includes at least an image carrier such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum, and further integrally includes an image carrier and a process means that acts on the image carrier. Such a process cartridge is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

According to this process cartridge method, since the maintenance of the device can be performed by the user himself / herself, the operability can be remarkably improved, and the image forming device having excellent usability can be provided. Therefore, this process cartridge method is widely used in an image forming apparatus.

Further, some of the above-mentioned process cartridges are equipped with a storage medium for storing various service information and process information. By utilizing the information in this storage medium, the image forming apparatus further improves the image quality and the maintenance of the process cartridge.

For such a stable electrical connection between the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body, there are known ones in which the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body are positioned with each other (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-47397 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-224782 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-473999

Here, for stable electrical connection between the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body, it is desired that the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body can be positioned with each other without providing a special space.

An object of the present invention is a cartridge capable of mutually positioning the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body without providing a special space for stable electrical connection between the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body, and an image using the cartridge. The purpose is to provide a forming device.

One aspect of the present invention supports a first unit including a first bearing portion that supports the image carrier, and a developer carrier that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. A cartridge having a second unit provided with a second bearing portion and a storage medium supported by the second unit and provided with an electrical contact surface, which can be inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus. Te, the rotational axis direction of the image bearing member, said second bearing portion provided on the inner side of the first bearing portion, at least a portion of the storage medium, before Symbol rotational axis direction, the second It is provided at a position outside the bearing portion of the above and inside the outermost shape of the first unit, and the electrical contact surface is arranged at the lower part of the cartridge, and further, a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction. The cartridge is oriented and inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the cartridge into the main body of the device, and is arranged so as to face the main body contact of the device main body when connected to the main body contact of the device main body. It is a cartridge to be.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by having the above-mentioned cartridge.

According to the present invention, for stable electrical connection between the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body, mutual positioning between the storage medium and the image forming apparatus main body can be performed without providing a special space.

It is a figure which looked at the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied seen from the downstream side in the insertion direction. It is sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus main body and process cartridge of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the inside of the cleaning container of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body with the opening / closing door of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment open. It is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body in the state which opened the opening / closing door of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and pulled out a tray. It is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body and the process cartridge at the time of attaching and detaching a process cartridge to a tray with the opening / closing door of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment opened and the tray is pulled out. It is a perspective view of the drive side positioning part of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body in the state which the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the process cartridge and the non-driving side positioning part of the image forming apparatus main body with the process cartridge attached to the image forming apparatus main body which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the process cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the state of assembling the storage medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view and the side view of the drive-side development side member before mounting the storage medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view of the main body contact, the 1st holder member, and the 2nd holder member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the assembly state of the main body contact | 1st holder member, 2nd holder member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the state that the main body contact | storage medium is connected which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the state that the main body contact | storage medium is connected which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the state that the main body contact | storage medium is connected which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an overview diagram about the installation of the storage medium, and the conceptual diagram about the installation range of the storage medium in the direction of the rotation axis.

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

<< First Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The direction of the rotation axis of the drum-type photoconductor drum 62 (hereinafter referred to as the drum 62), which is the image carrier, is the longitudinal direction. Further, in the longitudinal direction, the side on which the drum 62 receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus main body A is the driving side, and the opposite side is the non-driving side. The overall configuration and the image formation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, apparatus main body A) and a process cartridge (hereinafter, cartridge B) of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge B. Here, the apparatus main body A is a portion of the image forming apparatus excluding the cartridge B.

<Overall configuration of image forming device>
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is a laser beam printer using electrophotographic technology in which the cartridge B is detachably attached to and attached to the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus. When the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, an exposure apparatus 3 (laser scanner unit) for forming a latent image is arranged on the drum 62 of the cartridge B. Further, a sheet tray 4 containing a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet material P) to be image-formed is arranged under the cartridge B.

Further, the apparatus main body A includes a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a transport roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a transport guide 8, and a fixing device 9 along the transport direction D of the sheet material P. A discharge roller pair 10, a discharge tray 11, and the like are sequentially arranged. The fixing device 9 is composed of a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.

<Image formation process>
Next, the outline of the image formation process will be described. Based on the print start signal, the drum 62 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed). The charging roller 66 to which the bias voltage is applied comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

The exposure device 3 outputs the laser beam L according to the image information. The laser beam L passes through the laser opening 71h provided in the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in the developing unit 20 (second unit) as a developing device, the toner T in the toner chamber 29 is the first transport member 43, the second transport member 44, and the third transport member 50. It is agitated and conveyed by the rotation of the toner, and is sent out to the toner supply chamber 28. The toner T is supported on the surface of the developing roller 32, which is a developing agent carrier, by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet). The toner T is frictionally charged by the developing blade 42, and the layer thickness on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32 is regulated. The toner T is developed on the drum 62 according to the electrostatic latent image and visualized as a toner image.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet material P stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body A is set by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the transport roller pair 5c in accordance with the output timing of the laser beam L in the sheet tray. It is sent out from 4. Then, the sheet material P is conveyed to the transfer position between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. At this transfer position, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the drum 62 to the sheet material P.

The sheet material P to which the toner image is transferred is separated from the drum 62 and conveyed to the fixing device 9 along the conveying guide 8. Then, the sheet material P passes through the nip portion of the heating roller 9a and the pressurizing roller 9b constituting the fixing device 9. Pressurization / heat fixing treatment is performed at this nip portion, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet material P. The sheet material P that has undergone the toner image fixing process is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 10 and discharged to the discharge tray 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the drum 62 after transfer is used again in the image forming process after the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface is removed by the cleaning blade 77. The toner removed from the drum 62 is stored in the waste toner chamber 71b of the cleaning unit 60, which is the first unit.

In the above, the charging roller 66, the developing roller 32, the transfer roller 7, and the cleaning blade 77 are process means for acting on the drum 62.

<Cartridge attachment / detachment>
Next, attachment / detachment of the cartridge B to / from the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A in which the opening / closing door 13 is opened for attaching / detaching the cartridge B. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B in a state where the opening / closing door 13 is opened to attach / detach the cartridge B and the tray 18 is displaced (pulled out) from the internal position of the apparatus main body to the external position of the apparatus main body. is there. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B when the cartridge B is attached / detached with the opening / closing door 13 opened and the tray 18 pulled out. In FIG. 7, the cartridge B can be attached to and detached from the tray 18 along the attachment / detachment direction E.

An opening / closing door 13 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body A, and a cartridge insertion port 17 is provided when the opening / closing door 13 is opened. A tray 18 for mounting the cartridge B on the apparatus main body A is provided in the cartridge insertion slot 17. When the tray 18 is pulled out to a predetermined position, the cartridge B can be attached and detached. The cartridge B is inserted (mounted) into the apparatus main body A along a guide rail (not shown) in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 6 while being mounted on the tray 18.

As described above, the C direction is the insertion direction (mounting direction) of the cartridge B into the apparatus main body and the moving direction of the tray 18. Strictly speaking, the cartridge B is moved in a series of directions including horizontal and vertical until it is finally placed at the image forming position of the apparatus main body, but here, it is a typical insertion direction (mounting direction). ) Indicates the C direction.

Further, in FIG. 8, the apparatus main body is provided with a first main body drive shaft 14 and a second main body drive shaft 19 for transmitting drive to the first coupling 70 and the second coupling 21 provided on the cartridge B. Has been done. The first main body drive shaft 14 and the second main body drive shaft 19 are driven by a motor (not shown) which is a drive source of the device main body A.

As a result, the drum 62 connected to the first coupling 70 receives a driving force from the apparatus main body A and rotates. Further, the drive is transmitted from the second coupling 21 to rotate the developing roller 32. Further, the charging roller 66 and the developing roller 32 are fed from a power feeding unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body A.

<Cartridge support>
As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus main body A is provided with a drive side plate 15 and a non-drive side plate 16 for supporting the cartridge B. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the drive side plate 15 is provided with a drive side first support portion 15a, a drive side second support portion 15b, and a rotation support portion 15c of the cartridge B. Further, the non-driving side plate 16 is provided with a non-driving side first support portion 16a, a non-driving side second support portion 16b, and a rotation support portion 16c.

On the other hand, as the supported portion of the cartridge B, the supported portion 73b of the drum bearing member 73, the supported portion 73d, the driving side boss 71a of the cleaning frame body 71, the non-driving side protrusion 71f and the non-driving side boss 71g are provided, respectively. Has been done. Then, the supported portion 73b is supported by the drive-side first support portion 15a, the supported portion 73d is supported by the drive-side second support portion 15b, and the drive-side boss 71a is supported by the rotation support portion 15c. Further, the non-driving side protrusion 71f is supported by the non-driving side first support portion 16a and the non-driving side second support portion 16b, and the non-driving side boss 71g is supported by the rotation support portion 16c, whereby the cartridge B becomes. Positioned within the device body A.

<Structure of the entire cartridge>
Next, the overall configuration of the cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 10 to 13. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge B, and FIGS. 10 to 13 are perspective views illustrating the configuration of the cartridge B. 11 and 13 are partially enlarged views of the portion in the dotted line portion of FIGS. 10 and 12 enlarged at different angles. In the present embodiment, the screws for connecting the parts will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, the cartridge B, which is a process cartridge, has a cleaning unit 60 and a developing unit 20. In general, the process cartridge is a main body of an image forming apparatus in which a photoconductor drum and at least one of a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means as process means acting on the photoconductor drum are integrally formed into a cartridge. On the other hand, it is removable.

In this embodiment, the cartridge B, which is a process cartridge, has at least a cleaning unit 60. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning unit 60 includes a drum 62, a charging roller 66, a cleaning member 77, a cleaning frame 71 supporting these, and a lid fixed to the cleaning frame 71 by welding or the like. It has a member 72. In the cleaning unit 60, the charging roller 66 and the cleaning member 77 are arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62, respectively.

The cleaning member 77 has a rubber blade 77a, which is a blade-shaped elastic member made of rubber as an elastic material, and a support member 77b that supports the rubber blade. The rubber blade 77a is in contact with the drum 62 in the counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the drum 62. That is, the rubber blade 77a is in contact with the drum 62 so that its tip portion faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum 62.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning frame 71. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the waste toner removed from the surface of the drum 62 by the cleaning member 77 is conveyed by the first screw 86, the second screw 87, and the third screw 88 as the waste toner conveying member. .. Then, it is stored in the waste toner chamber 71b formed by the cleaning frame body 71 and the lid member 72. Further, the first screw 86 is rotated by transmitting a drive from the coupling 21 shown in FIG. 13 by a gear (not shown).

Then, the second screw 87 receives driving force from the first screw 86, and the third screw 88 receives driving force from the second screw 87 to rotate. The first screw 86 is arranged near the drum 62, the second screw 87 is arranged at the longitudinal end of the cleaning frame 71, and the third screw 88 is arranged in the waste toner chamber 71b. Here, the rotation axes of the first screw 86 and the third screw 88 are parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 62, and the rotation axis of the second screw 87 is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the drum 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drum contact sheet 65 for preventing waste toner from leaking from the cleaning frame 71 is provided at the edge of the cleaning frame 71 so as to abut the drum 62. ..

The drum 62 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 3 in accordance with the image forming operation by receiving a driving force from a main body drive motor (not shown) which is a drive source. The charging roller 66 is rotatably attached to the cleaning unit 60 via the charging roller bearing 67 at both ends of the cleaning frame 71 in the longitudinal direction (substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction of the drum 62). The charging roller 66 is pressed against the drum 62 by pressing the charging roller bearing 67 toward the drum 62 by the urging member 68. The charging roller 66 is driven by the rotation of the drum 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing unit 20 includes a developing roller 32, a developing container 23 that supports the developing roller 32, a developing blade 42, and the like. A magnet roller 34 is provided in the developing roller 32. Further, in the developing unit 20, a developing blade 42 for regulating the toner layer on the developing roller 32 is arranged. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, spacing holding members 38 are attached to both ends of the developing roller 32, and when the spacing members 38 and the drum 62 come into contact with each other, the developing roller 32 is drummed. It is held with a small gap of 62.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a developing roller contact sheet 33 for preventing toner from leaking from the developing unit 20 is provided at the edge of the bottom member 22 so as to come into contact with the developing roller 32. Further, the toner chamber 29 formed by the developing container 23 and the bottom member 22 is provided with a first transport member 43, a second transport member 44, and a third transport member 50. The first transport member 43, the second transport member 44, and the third transport member 50 agitate the toner contained in the toner chamber 29 and transport the toner to the toner supply chamber 28.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the cartridge B is configured by combining the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20. The cleaning unit 60 is provided with a cleaning frame 71, a lid member 72, a drum 62, a drum bearing member 73 for rotationally supporting the drum 62, and a drum shaft 78. As shown in FIG. 13, on the drive side of the drum 62, the drive side drum flange 63 is rotatably supported by the first bearing portion 73a (first bearing portion, image bearing body bearing portion) of the drum bearing member 73. To.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, on the non-driving side, the hole portion (not shown) of the non-driving side drum flange 64 is rotated by the drum shaft 78 press-fitted into the hole portion 71c provided in the cleaning frame 71. It has a structure that is supported as much as possible.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 10, and 12, the developing unit 20 includes a bottom member 22, a developing container 23, a driving side developing side member 26, a developing blade 42, a developing roller 32, and the like. Further, bearing members 27 and 37 for rotationally supporting the developing roller 32 are attached to the developing container 23. As shown in FIG. 10, on the drive side, the developing roller 32 is rotatably supported by the second bearing portion 27a (second bearing portion, developing bearing portion) of the bearing member 27.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are rotatably coupled to each other by the coupling pin 69 to form the cartridge B. Specifically, the developing container 23 is provided with a developing first support hole 23a and a developing second support hole 23b at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 20. Further, at both ends of the cleaning unit 60 in the longitudinal direction, a first hanging hole 71i and a second hanging hole 71j are provided in the cleaning frame body 71.

Then, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are formed by fitting the coupling pin 69 press-fitted and fixed into the first hanging hole 71i and the second hanging hole 71j, the developing first support hole 23a, and the developing second support hole 23b. They are rotatably connected to each other.

Further, the first hole portion 46Ra of the drive side urging member 46R is hung on the boss 73c of the drum bearing member 73, and the second hole portion 46Rb is hung on the boss 26a of the drive side development side member 26. Further, the first hole portion 46Fa of the non-driving side urging member 46F is hung on the boss 71k of the cleaning frame body 71, and the second hole portion 46Fb is hung on the boss 37a of the bearing member 37.

In the present embodiment, the drive-side urging member 46R and the non-drive-side urging member 46F are formed of tension springs. Then, the developing unit 20 is urged to the cleaning unit 60 by the urging force of the spring, so that the developing roller 32 is surely pressed in the direction of the drum 62. Further, the developing roller 32 is held at a predetermined distance from the drum 62 by the spacing members 38 attached to both ends of the developing roller 32.

(Structure of storage medium and mounting configuration of storage medium)
Next, with respect to the storage medium 101 mounted on the cartridge B (the storage element is provided inside the substrate and the electrical contacts are provided on the substrate), FIGS. 1, 12, 14, 14, 15, and 21 (a) are used. I will explain. 1 is a view of the cartridge B viewed from the downstream side in the insertion direction, FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the cartridge B, FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of how the storage medium 101 is assembled, and FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b) are the storage medium 101. It is a front view and the side view of the drive-side development side member 26 before mounting. Further, FIG. 21A is an overview diagram regarding the installation of the storage medium.

In FIG. 14, the F direction is the vertical direction, the G direction is the front-rear direction, and the H direction is the left-right direction (direction of the rotation axis of the drum 62). Further, the C direction is the insertion direction (mounting direction) of the cartridge B into the apparatus main body, and the moving direction of the tray 18.

The cartridge B as a process cartridge in the present embodiment is a cleaning unit 60 (first unit, image carrier unit) including a first bearing portion 73a (first bearing portion) that supports the drum 62 (image carrier). To be equipped. Further, the cartridge B includes a developing unit 20 (second unit, developing carrier unit) including a second bearing portion 27a (second bearing portion) that supports the developing roller 32 (developing agent carrier). Then, the recording medium 101 is supported by the developing unit 20 (second unit).

Here, as shown in FIGS. 1, 10, and 12, the bearing member 27 that supports the developing roller 32 from the first bearing portion 73a of the drum bearing member 73 that supports the drum 62 in the direction of the rotation axis of the drum 62. The second bearing portion 27a of the above is inside. The first bearing portion 73a and the second bearing portion 27a are surface portions of holes that pivotally support the drum 62 and the developing roller 32, respectively.

The storage medium 101 is supported by the development side member 26 on the drive side of the development unit 20, and is arranged outside the second bearing portion 27a and inside the outermost shape 60a of the cleaning unit 60 in the direction of the rotation axis of the drum 62. There is. A conceptual diagram is shown in FIG. 21B as an installation range of the storage medium in the direction of the rotation axis at this time.

In the present embodiment, the storage medium is arranged at the end position in the rotation axis direction of the developing unit supported as the inside of the range Z in FIG. 21 (b). At least a part of the storage medium is between the bearing portion (first bearing portion 73a) in one unit and the bearing portion (second bearing portion 27a) in the other unit in the direction of the rotation axis. It may be provided.

The storage medium 101 is provided upstream and below the drum 62 in the insertion direction of the cartridge B into the device main body A (FIG. 4), and has an insertion port in the direction of the rotation axis of the drum 62 (FIG. 14). ..

As shown in FIG. 14, the storage medium 101, which is a storage element such as a RAM or ROM, has electrical contacts (provided as a plurality of contact portions 101a1 and 101a2) on the substrate 101b in a transport direction (to the device main body of the tray) as described later. (Mounting direction of) It is held on the downstream side. Then, the information B regarding the cartridge is input to the storage medium 101 in advance, and when the cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus A, the information is exchanged with the image forming apparatus A side. That is, it is used for the purpose of notifying the control board (not shown) of the image forming apparatus A of the state such as the usage status of the cartridge B and using it for the image forming operation, or displaying the state of the cartridge B to the operator. Will be done.

Further, since the storage medium 101 can be written even during use, writing is performed at any time as needed. The contact portions 101a1 and 101a2 are for connecting to the main body contact 102 of the image forming apparatus A device, which will be described later, in order to read and write information to and from the storage medium 101.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15B, the drive-side developing side member 26 is formed of a storage medium first regulating surface 26b1, 26b2 and a storage medium second regulating surface 26c1, 26c2, 26c3, 26c4. An insertion groove 26f is provided as an insertion port. Here, when the storage medium is inserted when it is attached, there is an advantage that the storage medium does not easily fall because the insertion groove 26f as the insertion port is not below the direction of gravity. Further, a storage medium third regulation surface 26d is provided at the back of the insertion groove 26f, and a snap fit 26e is provided at the entrance.

Further, in the vicinity of the insertion groove 26f, a rough guide groove formed by the holder first regulation surfaces 26g1 and 26g2 and the holder second regulation surface 26h that regulate the position of the first holder member 104 described later on the image forming apparatus A side. 26i is provided. Further, in the vicinity of the insertion groove 26f, positioning ribs 26k1, 26k2, positioning surfaces 26m1, 26m2, 26m3, 26m4, and abutting surfaces 26n that regulate the position of the main body contact 102 described later on the image forming apparatus A side are provided. There is.

Next, a method of fixing the storage medium 101 to the drive-side developing side member 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. When the storage medium 101 is inserted in the arrow M direction (FIG. 14) toward the insertion groove 26f while elastically deforming the snap-fit 26e, the storage medium first regulating surfaces 26b1 and 26b2 are in the vertical direction in the arrow F direction (FIG. 15). The position of (b)) is regulated.

Further, the position in the arrow G direction (FIG. 15B) is regulated by the second regulation surface 26c1, 26c2, 26c3, 26c4 of the storage medium. Further, the position in the arrow H direction (FIG. 15A) is regulated by the storage medium third regulating surface 26d and the snap fit 26e. In this way, the storage medium 101 is fixed to the drive-side developing side member 26.

(Main body contact configuration and main body contact mounting configuration)
Next, the configuration of the main body contact 102 provided in the image forming apparatus A and the mounting configuration of the main body contact 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the main body contact 102, the spring 103, the first holder member 104, the spring 105, and the second holder member 106, and FIG. 17 is an assembled state of the main body contact 102, the first holder member 104, and the second holder member 106. 17 (a) is a side view and FIG. 17 (b) is a front view.

The main body contact 102 is provided with triangular contact portions 102a1 and 102a2 made of a spring material that is electrically connected to the storage medium 101. The spring-loaded contact portions 102a1 and 102a2 are electrically connected to the control board on the image forming apparatus A side via a bundled wire (not shown).

Further, the main body contact 102 is provided with convex portions 102b1, 102b2, 102b3, 102b4 to be positioned in the vertical direction of the contact portions 102a1, 102a2 for positioning with the drive side developing side member 26. Further, the main body contact 102 is provided with abutting surfaces 102c1 and 102c2 to which the abutting surface 26n (FIG. 14) of the driving side developing side member 26 abuts.

Then, in FIGS. 16 and 17B, the main body contact 102 has first regulation portions 102d1 and 102d2 for positioning with the first holder member 104 in the vertical direction, and a dropout regulation portion for restricting dropout. 102f1 and 102f2 are provided. Further, the main body contact 102 is provided with second regulating portions 102e1 and 102e2 for positioning with the first holder member 104 in the left-right direction (direction orthogonal to the cartridge insertion direction).

On the other hand, the first holder member 104 is provided with first restricting portions 104a1 and 104a2 for vertically positioning with the main body contact 102, and dropout restricting portions 104c1 and 104c2 for restricting dropout. Further, the first holder member 104 is provided with second regulating portions 104b1 and 104b2 for positioning in the left-right direction with the main body contact 102.

Further, in FIGS. 16 and 17 (b), the first holder member 104 is provided with regulation bosses 104d1, 104d2, 104d3, 104d4 for positioning with the second holder member 106. Further, the first holder member 104 is provided with a convex portion 104e (FIGS. 14 and 16) that engages with the rough guide groove 26i (FIG. 15 (a)) of the drive side side member 26. On the other hand, the second holder member 106 is provided with elongated holes 106a1 and 106a2 into which the regulation bosses 104d1, 104d2, 104d3 and 104d4 are inserted for positioning with the first holder member 104.

(Assembly configuration of main body contact, first holder member, second holder member)
Next, the assembly configuration of the main body contact 102, the first holder member 104, and the second holder member 106 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

First, in FIG. 16, the main body contact 102 sandwiches a spring 103 that is urged with respect to the first holder member 104 in the cartridge insertion direction (direction orthogonal to the I direction and the J direction in FIG. 17). It can be assembled in the state of being. At this time, the position is restricted in the vertical direction (arrow J direction in FIG. 17) by engaging the first regulating portions 102d1 and 102d2 in the vertical direction with the first regulating portions 104a1 and 104a2 in the vertical direction. To.

Further, due to the engagement between the second regulation portions 102e1 and 102e2 in the left-right direction of the main body contact 102 and the second regulation portions 104b1 and 104b2 in the left-right direction of the first holder member 104, there is backlash in the left-right direction (arrow I direction in FIG. 17). The position is regulated while holding.

Then, the dropout restricting portions 102f1 and 102f2 of the main body contact 102 and the dropout restricting portions 104c1 and 104c2 of the first holder member 104 come into contact with each other to receive the urging force of the spring 103 urged in the cartridge insertion direction.

Further, the first holder member 104 is assembled to the second holder member 106 with a spring 105 urged in the vertical direction (J direction in FIG. 17) sandwiched between them. At this time, the first holder member 104 is moved in the vertical direction (J direction in FIG. 17) by engaging the regulation bosses 104d1, 104d2, 104d3, 104d4 of the first holder member 104 with the elongated holes 106a1 and 106a2 of the second holder member 106. ) Can be moved.

(Connection operation between storage medium and main unit contact)
The connection operation between the storage medium 101 and the main body contact 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14, 16, 18, 19, and 20. 18, 19 and 20 are explanatory views of how the main body contact 102 and the storage medium 101 are connected, and FIGS. 18 (a), 19 (a) and 20 (a) are side views and FIGS. 18 (a). b), FIGS. 19 (b), and 20 (b) are bottom views. First, in FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b), when the cartridge B is inserted in the arrow K direction (insertion direction of the cartridge B), the drive side is driven. The convex portion 104e (FIGS. 14, 16, and 18 (b)) of the first holder member 104 fits into the rough guide groove 26i (FIG. 15 (a)) of the developing side member 26. Then, the first regulation surfaces 26g1 and 26g2 (FIG. 18B, which is a bottom view) of the drive-side development side member 26 sandwich the convex portion 104e, so that the first holder member 104 with respect to the drive-side development side member 26. The longitudinal position of the is regulated.

Further, the second regulating surface 26h (FIGS. 15A and 18B) of the drive-side developing side member 26 pushes down the convex portion 104e to compress the spring 105 (FIG. 16) while compressing the first holder. The member 104 moves downward following the drive-side developing side member 26.

When further inserted in the direction of arrow K, the positioning ribs 26k1, 26k2 and the positioning surfaces 26m1, 26m2, 26m3, 26m4 of the drive-side developing side member 26 shown in FIG. Enter 102b4. As a result, the drive-side developing side member 26 and the main body contact 102 are accurately positioned.

Then, when the mounting of the cartridge B on the device main body A is completed, the abutting surfaces 26n (FIGS. 14 and 20) of the drive-side developing side member 26 are exposed to the abutting surfaces 102c1 and 102c2 (FIG. 16) of the main body contact 102. The spring 103 (FIG. 16) is compressed. Further, the contact portions 101a1 and 101a2 of the storage medium 101 compress the triangular contact portions 102a1 and 102a2 made of the spring material of the main body contact 102.

Here, since the urging force of the spring 103 (FIG. 16) is set to be larger than the total value of the urging forces of the contact portions 102a1 and 102a2 of the main body contact 102, a desired contact pressure is applied to the storage medium 101 and the main body contact 102. Can be secured.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the storage medium 101 and the positioning configuration are provided in the range generated by the difference in length between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a new space for positioning the main body contact 102 of the device main body A and the storage medium 101. Therefore, stable electrical connection can be realized, and the device main body A and the cartridge B can be miniaturized and reduced in cost.

(Arrangement direction of electrical contacts of recording medium)
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18, 19, and 20, at least a part of the contact portions 101a1 and 101a2, which are the electrical contacts of the storage medium 101, is on the downstream side in the insertion direction (mounting direction) of the cartridge B. It is placed facing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the storage medium 101 and the main body contact 102 can be connected with a simple configuration.

That is, when the cartridge is viewed from the downstream side in the insertion direction, the surface of the electrical contact of the storage medium can be seen. The electrical contact may also have a plurality of surfaces, and in the present embodiment, the widest surface can be seen. The wide surface is not limited to the surface arranged at a position orthogonal to the insertion direction, and the surface of the electric contact may be arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the insertion direction.

If the contact portions 101a1 and 101a2 do not face the downstream side in the insertion direction, a mechanism for following the main body contact 102 in the insertion direction of the cartridge B may be required. Alternatively, after the cartridge B has been mounted, a mechanism for engaging the main body contact 102 with the storage medium 101 may be required in conjunction with the operation of closing the opening / closing door 13.

In the present embodiment, the insertion direction of the cartridge B, the positioning direction of the storage medium 101 and the main body contact 102, and the compression direction of the contact portions 102a1 and 102a2 of the main body contact 102 are the same, and they are engaged with the above-mentioned tracking mechanism. Does not require a mechanism. Here, the term "facing the downstream side" means that the image forming apparatus faces the electrical contact in the main body of the image forming apparatus, or may be inclined and opposed to the electric contact.

(Modification example)
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof. Incidentally, the functions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those, unless otherwise specified.

(Modification example 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the bearing member 27, which is the second bearing portion that supports the developing roller 32, is inside the first bearing portion 73a of the drum bearing member 73 that supports the drum 62 has been described. However, the configuration in which the positional relationship in the longitudinal direction is opposite, that is, the first bearing portion 73a of the drum bearing member 73 that supports the drum 62 is inside the second bearing portion 27a of the bearing member 27 that supports the developing roller 32. It may be applied to the configuration.

In this case, the storage medium 101 may be supported by the cleaning unit 60, which is the first unit, and may be arranged outside the first bearing portion 73a and inside the outermost shape of the developing unit 20. Then, the storage medium 101 is provided in the range caused by the difference in length between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 in the longitudinal direction, and the same effect can be obtained.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, the cartridge B as a process cartridge has been described. That is, a first unit having a first bearing portion that supports the image carrier, a second unit having a second bearing portion that supports the developer carrier, and a storage medium having electrical contacts. The cartridge that can be inserted into the main body of the device is described.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a developing cartridge as a process cartridge and an image carrier cartridge (photoreceptor cartridge). That is, even if the developing cartridge has a developing unit having a developing bearing portion that supports the developing agent carrier and a storage medium having electrical contacts, and can be inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus. good.

In this case, the developing bearing portion is provided inside the image bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing agent carrier. Then, at least a part of the storage medium is supported by the developing unit, and is provided at a position outside the developing bearing portion and inside the outermost shape of the image bearing unit having the image bearing bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis. Be done. Here, the electrical contacts face downstream in the direction of insertion into the device body.

Further, as the image carrier cartridge (photoreceptor cartridge), the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit including an image carrier bearing portion that supports the image carrier, and a storage medium provided with electrical contacts. It may be a cartridge that can be inserted into the cartridge.

In this case, the image carrier bearing portion is provided inside the developed bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier. Then, at least a part of the storage medium is supported by the image carrier unit, and is located outside the image carrier bearing portion and inside the outermost shape of the developing carrier unit having the developing bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis. It is provided in. Here, the electrical contacts face downstream in the direction of insertion into the device body.

15b ... Support part, 26n ... Butt surface, 27a ... Second bearing part, 32 ... Development roller, 62 ... Drum, 73a ... First bearing part, 73d ... Supported part, 101 ... Storage medium, 102a1, 102a2 ... contact part, 102c1, 102c2 ... abutment surface, A ... device body of image forming apparatus, B ... cartridge

Claims (15)

A first unit having a first bearing portion that supports the image carrier, and
A second unit including a second bearing portion that supports the developer carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, and a second unit.
A storage medium supported by the second unit and provided with an electrical contact surface.
A cartridge that can be inserted into the main body of an image forming device.
The second bearing portion is provided inside the first bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier.
At least a portion of the storage medium, before Symbol rotational axis direction, at the outer side of the second bearing portion, and provided at positions which are inside the outermost of said first unit,
The electrical contact surface is arranged at the lower part of the cartridge, is oriented in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction, and is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the cartridge into the apparatus main body, and is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the apparatus main body. A cartridge characterized in that it is arranged so as to face the main body contact of the device main body when connected to the contact. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second unit is movable with respect to the first unit. The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage medium is arranged upstream of the image carrier with respect to the insertion direction. With respect to the insertion direction, the storage medium is arranged upstream of the image carrier, and with the cartridge mounted on the apparatus body, the storage medium is arranged below the image carrier. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is provided. The first unit is a supported portion that projects outward from the first bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis, and is provided on the device main body when the cartridge is inserted into the device main body. It has a supported part that comes into contact with the bearing part and is supported.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage medium is located inside the position of the outer end of the supported portion in the direction of the rotation axis. cartridge. The main body contacts of the apparatus main body are contact portions connected to the abutting surface and the electrical contact surface of the storage medium, and have a spring property that can move relative to the abutting surface. And, equipped with
The second unit has an abutting surface that abuts against the abutted surface, and has an abutting surface provided at a position inside the outermost shape of the first unit in the direction of the rotation axis.
When the cartridge is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, the contact portion is downstream of the insertion direction by the electrical contact surface of the cartridge before and in the state where the abutting surface and the abutted surface abut each other. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cartridge is pressed to the side. The abutting surface is arranged on the downstream side in the insertion direction with respect to the electric contact surface, and the electric contact surface and the contact portion in a state where the abutting surface and the abutting surface are in contact with each other. The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the contact pressure is specified. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the storage medium is provided on the end side of the second unit in the direction of the rotation axis. Wherein the storage medium is at least partially, in the rotational axis direction, that is provided between the second bearing portion of the first bearing portion and the second unit in the first unit The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the storage medium includes a plurality of the electrical contact surfaces in the direction of the rotation axis. The storage medium has a substrate provided with a storage element and a plurality of electrical contact surfaces provided on one surface of the substrate, and the electric cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the one surface of the substrate provided with a plurality of contact surfaces is arranged so as to face the main body contacts. At least a part of the electrical contact surface is provided at a position outside the second bearing portion and inside the outermost shape of the first unit in the direction of the rotation axis. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the storage medium is provided on the upstream side and below the image carrier in the insertion direction. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the storage medium has an insertion slot in the direction of the rotation axis. With the device body
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , which is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus comprising the above and forming an image on a recording material using the cartridge.

Images