JPH0850441A - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly disassemble even when the structure of an electrophotographic process cartridge is not known and to prevent scattering of a toner by providing members or units which constitute the process cartridge with indications to show the possible postures of the members or the units when disassembled. CONSTITUTION:On a conspicuous place of a cleaning device 4, a label 11 with an arrow 11-1 indicating the direction of disassembling and a character 11-2 indicating the upside is stuck as an indication to show the posture of the cleaning device 4 during disassembling. A similar label 12 is stuck on a developing device 7. Therefore, even when a photosensitive drum 1 is disassembled from the cleaning device 4 and the photosensitive drum 1 is removed, leaking of the recovered toner 8-1 through the aperture between a squeezing sheet 3 and a cleaning blade 2 can be prevented by setting the cleaning device 4 according to the direction indicated by the label 11. Further, when a developing sleeve 6 is disassembled from the developing device 7, leaking of the toner 8-2, 8-3 is prevented by setting the developing device 7 according to the direction indicated by the label 12 and removing the developing sleeve 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge used in a copying machine, a printer or the like using electrophotography.

[0002]

If the process cartridge is to be recycled, the used process cartridge must be disassembled in order to take out the necessary parts.

However, in general, the disassembler is often different from the manufacturer, and in this case, the process cartridges of various manufacturers are disassembled. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the used process cartridge has toner 8-2 attached to the developing blade 5, developing sleeve 6 and toner 8-on the eaves 16 of the developing container in a part of the developing device 7. 3 remains, and the cleaning device 4 is clogged with the transfer residual toner 8-1 collected during paper passing.

As a result, when the process cartridges are assembled, they are assembled in order on the production line, so the production line is not contaminated. However, when disassembling process cartridges of various manufacturers, a disassembler who does not understand the internal structure may Since the toner was disassembled, the toner was left in the process cartridge and the line was often contaminated. This is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows that when the photosensitive drum 1 is disassembled in the direction of the arrow in the drawing while the process cartridge of FIG. 4 is in the state of FIG. 4, the toner 8-1 accumulated in the cleaning device 4 is between the cleaning blade 2 and the squeeze sheet 3. Opening 17
Was blocked by the photosensitive drum 1, but the opening 17 was opened by the movement of the photosensitive drum 1 and dropped due to gravity, resulting in toner scattering as indicated by reference numeral 8-4 and soiling the decomposition line. It was

In FIG. 6, when the process cartridge of FIG. 4 is turned upside down and the photosensitive drum 1 is disassembled in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the toner 8-3 accumulated above the eaves 16 at the tip of the developing device 7 is turned upside down. I dropped it due to gravity,
The toner may scatter on the photosensitive drum 1, but the toner may be scattered as shown by reference numeral 8-5 and the decomposition line may be soiled.

These toner drops not only hinder the smooth recovery of the toner, but when a large amount adheres to the magnet used for the developing sleeve 6, the magnetic flux density is lowered and the developing magnet cannot be recycled. I got it. In addition, the scattering of toner leads to pollution of the surrounding air and further to the environmental pollution of the earth, which is a serious problem.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a process cartridge in which a plurality of members for carrying out an electrophotographic process are assembled, the member to be disassembled or the unit in which the members are assembled is disassembled. It is a process cartridge characterized by being provided with a display indicating a possible posture.

The second invention of the present invention is the first invention, characterized in that an indication showing a possible posture of the member or the unit is displayed on the member to be disassembled or the unit itself. It is the described process cartridge.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an indication indicating a possible posture of the member or the unit is displayed on a member or unit on the other side that is disassembled from the member or the unit and separated from it. It is the process cartridge according to the first invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge has a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device as a unit in the housing, and each unit is provided with an indication indicating a possible posture when disassembled. The process cartridge according to the first aspect of the invention.

The fifth invention of the present invention is any one of the first to fourth inventions characterized in that the display showing the posture that can be taken at the time of disassembly is a display showing the orientation of the member or unit to be disassembled. Process cartridge according to the third aspect.

[0013]

2. Description of the Related Art Some laser beam printers, to which electrophotography is applied, are provided with a main part for performing an image forming process as an integrated process cartridge. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the primary charger 1 is provided around the photosensitive drum 1.
3, the developing device 7 and the cleaning device 4 are arranged and the laser light 14
The developing device 7 accommodates toner in a toner accommodating portion 15 adjacent to the developing portion including the developing sleeve 6 to form a process cartridge. During image formation, the photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the direction of arrow 9 in the figure, is uniformly charged by the primary charger 13, and a latent image is formed by the laser beam 14 according to the image signal. The toner is made into a thin layer by the developing sleeve 6 and the developing blade 5 which are rotating in the direction of arrow 10 in the figure, is applied to the latent image to become a visible image, and is a transfer material supplied by a sheet feeding means (not shown). Is transcribed to. The residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is scraped off by the cleaning blade 2 and prevented from leaking by the squeegee sheet 3, and is stored in the cleaning device 4. If such an image forming process is repeated, the amount of toner in the developing device 7 decreases and it becomes unusable. Normally, the toner is replaced with a new one when there is no toner remaining in the toner container 15. Since this process cartridge can be easily replaced by the user, it contributes to the reduction of the social cost of a service person traveling around.

In such a process cartridge, the photosensitive drum 1 is assembled so as to be rotatably supported by the above-mentioned housing, and the developing device 7 is unitized by assembling at least the developing sleeve 6 and the developing blade 5 in a single container. Then, the cleaning device 4 is assembled into a unit by assembling the cleaning blade 2 and the squishy sheet 3 into a single container, and the primary charger 13 is a roller-shaped or corona charger and is a unit attached to the housing. In the process cartridge, the above units are partially assembled, and then the process cartridge is assembled in a housing together with other members.

Most of such process cartridges were disposable. However, in recent years, as energy saving, resource saving, ecology, etc. have become problems, recycling of process cartridges has begun to be seriously considered.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention is a process cartridge equipped with a developing device and a cleaning device, each of which is formed by assembling a plurality of members including at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member for performing an electrophotographic process. The process cartridge is characterized in that a display is provided to indicate the postures that can be taken when disassembling the developing device and the cleaning device, which are the unit or the unit in which the members are to be assembled.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, an indication indicating the possible posture of the member or the developing device and the cleaning device is displayed on the member to be disassembled or the developing device and the cleaning device itself. It is the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the first invention, which is displayed.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, an indication indicating the possible postures of the member or the developing device and the cleaning device is displayed on the housing of the other side which is disassembled and separated from the developing device and the cleaning device. The process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the process cartridge has a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device as a unit in a housing, and each unit has an indication indicating a posture which can be taken at the time of disassembling. The process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that

The fifth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the display showing the posture that can be taken at the time of disassembling is an arrow showing the direction of the member or unit to be disassembled. The process cartridge according to any one of the embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The device configuration of all members and units is the same as that shown in the conventional example, the same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted unless it is related to disassembly and assembly.

A label 11 indicating the direction when the cleaning device 4 is disassembled is attached to a prominent place of the cleaning device 4 as an indication indicating the posture of the cleaning device 4 when disassembling the cleaning device 4. 11-1 is an arrow and 11-2 shows the upper side. Similarly, a similar label 12 is attached to the developing device 7. 12-1
Indicates an arrow, and 12-2 indicates the upper side.

Due to such a structure, even a person who is completely unfamiliar with the structure of the process cartridge can set the respective units in accordance with the arrow indicating the setting direction at the time of disassembly, and the process cartridge can be smoothly mounted without toner scattering. It becomes possible to disassemble.

FIG. 2 shows how the photosensitive drum 1 is disassembled from the cleaning device 4. In the direction shown on label 11,
If the cleaning device 4 is set, even if the photosensitive drum 1 is removed, the collected toner 8-1 will not spill out from the openings 17 of the squeegee sheet 3 and the cleaning blade 2.

FIG. 3 shows the case where the developing sleeve 6 is removed from the developing device 7. After all, in the direction indicated by the label 12, the developing device 7
And the developing sleeve 6 is removed, the toner 8-2,
8-3 does not spill.

The direction of disassembling the member or each unit is not limited to the arrow, and may be a letter or word of each country, a symbol, a figure that can be seen from above and below.

Further, although the label is used in the embodiment to inform the direction of the member or each unit, this is not limited to the label, and for example, the label may be directly printed on the most prominent place of each unit. It may be a stamp or the like. In addition, a mark may be molded from the beginning on the mold for molding each unit.

In the embodiment, the direction in which the unit should be taken is provided at one location by means of an arrow as an indication of the posture of the unit, but a plurality of units may be provided around the unit. Further, the display may be a display showing a posture in which the unit should not be disassembled. It is desirable to provide this display on the member to be disassembled or on the unit itself. However, for example, when the developing device 7 and the cleaning device 4 are covered with the housing of the process cartridge, the display may be provided on the housing. Alternatively, the marking may be provided on the member to be disassembled or the member adjacent to the unit.

[0030]

[Examples] In addition to the embodiments.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention provides a process cartridge used in an electrophotographic apparatus,
By providing the member or unit that constitutes the process cartridge with an indication indicating the posture that can be taken when disassembling, for example, even if the disassembling contractor does not know the structure of the process cartridge, toner scattering is prevented and smooth disassembly is possible. Can be

As a result, it becomes possible to efficiently recycle the process cartridge, and it is possible to contribute to problems such as energy saving, resource saving, and ecology.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a partial cross section of a process cartridge showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing in partial cross-section the disassembling operation of the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partial cross-section of the disassembling operation of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing an operation of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing an operation of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photosensitive Drum 4 Cleaning Device 7 Developing Device 11 Label 12 Label 13 Primary Charger

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge in which a plurality of members for performing an electrophotographic process are assembled, and a display indicating a posture that can be taken when disassembling the member as a unit to be disassembled or a unit in which the members are collected is provided. And process cartridge. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating a possible posture of the member or the unit is displayed on the member to be disassembled or the unit itself. 3. The display according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating a possible posture of the member or the unit is displayed on a member or unit on the other side that is disassembled from the member or the unit and separated. Process cartridge. 4. The process cartridge has a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device as a unit in a housing, and each unit is provided with an indication indicating a posture that can be taken at the time of disassembling. 1. The process cartridge according to 1. 5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the display indicating the posture that can be taken at the time of disassembly is a display indicating the direction of the member or unit to be disassembled.