JP2000081825A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make recoverable waste toner at a developing position and to prevent renewal parts such as an intermediate transfer body, the inside of an image forming device main body and transfer material from being soiled by providing a process cartridge with a waste toner tray. SOLUTION: The 1st waste toner tray 2 is supported by a side plate 22 extended from both sides of a cleaning frame body 4e constituting the waste toner container 4d of the process cartridge 3. The tray 2 and the plate 22 are constituted of the same member as the armor of the cartridge 3. The plate 22 is a supporting part for the tray 2, is fixed to both end faces in the longitudinal direction of the frame body 4e, and integrally molded with the tray 2. The tray 2 is positioned between the developing position P3 and a transfer position P4 and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the drum 4 by leaving a space S between the drum 4 and the tray 2. The tray 2 is longer than the drum 4 and projects to both sides of the drum 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an image forming section for forming an image can be replaced by a user.

The above-mentioned process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is made detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. is there. In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by using an electrophotographic image forming method includes:
For example, electrophotographic copying machines, electrophotographic printers (eg, laser beam printers, LED printers, etc.), facsimile machines, word processors, and the like have been put to practical use.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a conventional example, wherein 1 is an image forming apparatus main body, 3 is a process cartridge, 4 is a photosensitive drum, 9 is a developing rotary, 10Y is a yellow toner developing device, and 10M is a magenta toner developing device. 10C is a cyan toner developing device, 10BK is a black toner developing device, 11
Reference numeral denotes a waste toner tray attached below the developing rotary 9. Other parts will be described in the first embodiment.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 6 is a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in which a yellow toner developing unit 10Y, a magenta toner developing unit 10M, a cyan toner developing unit 10C, a black toner developing A developing roller 10b arranged in each color toner developing unit is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum 4 arranged in the process cartridge 3 to develop sequentially by rotating a developing rotary 9 by disposing a developing unit 10BK. The contact position between the developing roller 10b and the photosensitive drum 4 is referred to as a developing position.

Conventionally, the waste toner tray 11 has been arranged below the developing rotary 9. Therefore, when the developing rotary 9 is stopped, the toner that has fallen from the developing device located at the lowermost portion and the waste toner that has fallen down inside the developing rotary 9 have been collected.

[0007]

However, in the conventional waste toner tray, it is not possible to collect the toner that falls from the developing unit located at the lowermost position when the developing rotary is stopped or the toner that falls along the inside of the developing rotary. Although possible, the waste toner at the developing position cannot be collected.
Therefore, the toner or floating toner that has fallen during development falls on the intermediate transfer member or the conveyance path located below the development position.

The toner that has fallen on the intermediate transfer member stains the user's hands and clothes when the user replaces the intermediate transfer member. The toner that has fallen into the transport path stains the inside of the image forming apparatus main body or stains the transfer material during printing.

Further, there is also an inconvenience that the waste toner tray attached to the lower portion of the developing rotary as in the prior art has to be removed after removing another unit to take out the waste toner tray.

Further, if the waste toner tray is to be provided for the life of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the toner receiving portion of the waste toner tray, which may affect the structure of the image forming apparatus. Yes. In addition, it takes a long time to check the remaining capacity of the toner receiving portion of the waste toner tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to recover waste toner at a developing position, and to replace parts such as an intermediate transfer member provided in an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The inside and the transfer material can be prevented from being stained. Further, the waste toner tray can be easily replaced. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the replacement cycle for collecting the waste toner in the waste toner tray can be made shorter than before, so that the toner receiving portion of the waste toner tray can be arranged with a small capacity. And

[0012]

The main aspects of the present invention are as described below with reference to the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum And a waste toner tray provided below a developing position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cartridge frame supporting the processing means and supporting the processing means. is there.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum A cartridge frame supporting the process means and supporting the device so as to be exposed to the outside, and a closing position to cover an exposed portion exposed to the outside of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
A shutter that is movable between these two positions, a waste toner tray provided below the developing position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process cartridge that is pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. A position to cover the waste toner tray when the toner cartridge is removed, and a position to open the waste toner tray when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. And a process cartridge.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
Processing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
A process cartridge comprising: a cartridge frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum so as to be exposed to the outside and incorporating the process means; and a waste toner tray provided below a developing position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Mounting means for removably mounting the b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the short direction of the process cartridge 3 is the direction in which the process cartridge 3 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus A, and coincides with the transport direction of the recording medium. The longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 3 is a direction that intersects (substantially orthogonal) the direction in which the process cartridge 3 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus A, is parallel to the surface of the recording medium, and transports the recording medium. This is a direction that intersects (substantially orthogonal) with the direction. The left and right of the process cartridge are right or left when the recording medium is viewed from above according to the transport direction of the recording medium, and the front and rear are the front end in the mounting direction of the process cartridge to the movable body and the rear end in the mounting direction. The side is later. The apparatus main body refers to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<< Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus >> FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an entire electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an image forming apparatus) according to the present invention.

First, an outline of the entire image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 is a four-color full-color laser beam printer.

The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 includes a drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as "photosensitive drum") 4 as a first image carrier. The photosensitive drum 4
It is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a driving unit (not shown). Around the photosensitive drum 4, a charging device 4a that contacts the photosensitive drum 4 at the charging position P1 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 in order according to the rotation direction, and exposes a laser beam based on image information to the exposure position. Exposure means 4b for irradiating P2 to form an electrostatic latent image on photosensitive drum 4, developing device 10 for attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image at developing position P3 and developing it as a toner image, An intermediate transfer member 5 as a second image carrier to which a toner image is primarily transferred at a transfer position P4, and a cleaning device that removes transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 after the primary transfer at a cleaning position P5. 4c and the like are provided.

Here, the photosensitive drum 4, the charging device 4a, and the cleaning device 4c for removing toner are integrally formed as a cartridge to form the process cartridge 3 and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1.

In addition, a transfer sheet (third image carrier) 21 as a transfer material is fed toward the intermediate transfer member 5 and a transfer means for transferring the transfer sheet 21, the transfer sheet after the secondary transfer. A fixing device 13 for fixing the toner image to 21 is provided.

Hereinafter, the photosensitive drum 4 will be described in detail.

The photosensitive drum 4 has an organic photoconductor layer (OP) on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 47 mm.
C photoreceptor). The photosensitive drum 4 is rotatably supported at both ends by a supporting member, and a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to one end of the photosensitive drum 4 so as to be directed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Is driven to rotate.

The charging device 4a is described in, for example,
A so-called contact charging type as shown in JP-A-3-149669 can be used. The charging member is a conductive roller formed in a roller shape. The roller is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller by a power supply (not shown) to thereby charge the photosensitive member. This is for uniformly charging the surface of the drum 4.

The exposure means 4b has a polygon mirror (not shown) as is well known, and this polygon mirror includes:
Image light corresponding to the image signal is emitted by the laser diode. The polygon mirror is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor, and selectively exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 4 to the reflected image light via an imaging lens, a reflection mirror, and the like to form an electrostatic latent image. It is composed.

The developing device 10 stores a developing rotary 9 rotatable around a shaft 10d and four developing devices mounted thereon, that is, toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. Developing device 10Y,
10M, 10C and 10Bk are provided. When the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4 is developed, a predetermined developing device of a color to be attached to the electrostatic latent image is arranged at the developing position P3. That is, the predetermined developing device is stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 4 by the indexing rotation of the developing rotary 9, and the developing roller 10b of the developing device has a minute gap (about 300 μm) with respect to the photosensitive drum 4. After being positioned so as to face each other, an electrostatic latent image is developed on the photosensitive drum 4. This development is performed as follows. The toner in the container of the developing device corresponding to the color to be developed is sent to the applying roller 10a by the feeding mechanism, and the rotating applying roller 10a is rotated.
a and a toner regulating blade 10c, a thin layer of toner is applied to the outer periphery of the rotating developing roller 10b, and a charge is applied to the toner (frictional charging). This developing roller 1
By applying a developing bias between Ob and the photosensitive drum 4 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, a toner image is attached to the electrostatic latent image and developed as a toner image. The developing rollers 10b of the developing units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk are connected to a high-voltage power supply for developing each color provided in the image forming apparatus A when the developing units are arranged at the developing position P3. The voltage is selectively applied for each color development. The developing units 10Y and 10Y
M, 10C, and 10Bk are configured to be detachable from the developing rotary 9 individually, and the developing rotary 9 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1.

The intermediate transfer member 5 as a second image carrier is
A plurality of toner images sequentially primary-transferred and superposed from the photosensitive drum 4 are secondarily transferred to the transfer paper 21 collectively. The intermediate transfer member 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 5a that runs in the direction of arrow R5. The intermediate transfer belt 5a of the present embodiment is a belt having a circumference of about 440 mm, and is stretched around three rollers: a driving roller 6c, a secondary transfer facing roller 6b, and a tension roller 6a. There is provided a primary transfer roller 7 that retreats so as to take a position where the intermediate transfer belt 5a is pressed against the photosensitive drum 4 in proximity to the tension roller 6a and a position where the intermediate transfer belt 5a is separated from the photosensitive drum 4. The intermediate transfer belt 5a travels in the direction of arrow R5 due to the rotation of the driving roller 6c.
Further, at a predetermined position outside the intermediate transfer belt 5a, there is provided a cleaning unit 5e which can be brought into contact with and separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5a.
The transfer residual toner remaining after the next transfer is removed. The cleaning unit 5e brings the primary transfer roller 7 into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5a to give the toner a charge opposite to that at the time of transfer. The toner provided with the opposite charge is electrostatically attached to the photosensitive drum 4 and then collected by the cleaning device 4c for the photosensitive drum 4. In addition,
The cleaning method of the intermediate transfer belt 5a is not limited to the electrostatic cleaning described above, but may be a mechanical method such as a blade or a fur brush, or a method using both of them.

After the toner developed on the photosensitive drum 4 by the developing device 10 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5a, the cleaning device 4c is a so-called transfer that is not primary-transferred and remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. This is to remove the residual toner. In the cleaning device 4c shown in FIG. 4, the transfer residual toner is accumulated in the waste toner container 4d formed by the cleaning frame 4e. In FIG. 1, the inside of the cleaning frame 4e is not shown.

The feeding / conveying means feeds the transfer paper 21 to the image forming section. The paper feed cassette 2 accommodates a plurality of transfer papers 21 and is loaded below the image forming apparatus A.
4 is provided. Pickup roller 1 during image formation
4. The first paper feed roller 15 and the second paper feed roller 16 are driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation to separate and feed the transfer papers 21 in the paper feed cassette 24 one by one. The sheet is guided and fed to the intermediate transfer belt 5a through the registration roller 18.

The fixing device 13 fixes a plurality of toner images secondary-transferred onto the recording paper 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the driving roller 13a is driven to rotate, and the transfer paper is pressed against the driving roller 13a. And a fixing roller 13b for applying heat and pressure to the fixing roller 21. That is, when the transfer paper 21 that has passed through the secondary transfer roller 8 that collectively transfers the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5 a passes through the fixing device 13,
And heat and pressure are applied by the fixing roller 13b. Thereby, the toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the transfer paper 21.

When the process cartridge 3 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, a drawer-like movable member (not shown) for guiding the process cartridge 3 into the inside of the image forming apparatus A is moved substantially horizontally from the inside of the image forming apparatus A. It has a configuration that can be pulled out and inserted. The process cartridge 3 is attached to and detached from the drawn-out movable body. The process cartridge 3 mounted on the movable body is positioned by pushing the movable body into the image forming apparatus main body 1, and a shaft joint (not shown) at a support shaft end of the photosensitive drum 4 is connected to the shaft joint of the apparatus main body 1. Then, the shaft coupling on the apparatus main body 1 side is driven from the drive source on the apparatus main body 1 side via the power transmission member, and the photosensitive drum 4 is driven to rotate.

By placing the movable body in the image forming apparatus A, the image can be formed as shown in FIG.

{Image Forming Operation} Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

The photosensitive drum 4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise) in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 5a, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is uniformly charged by the charging device 4a. The yellow image is irradiated by the means 4b to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4. Simultaneously with the formation of the electrostatic latent image, the developing device 10 is driven to move the yellow developing device 10Y to the developing position P3.
And apply a voltage of the same polarity and substantially the same potential as the charging polarity of the photoconductor drum 4 so that the yellow toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 4. And develop. Due to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 4, this yellow developed image comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5a, and
A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the next transfer roller (driven roller) 7 to primarily transfer the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 4 onto the intermediate transfer belt 5a.

When the primary transfer of the yellow toner image is completed as described above, the next developing unit 10M rotates and moves to the developing position P3 facing the photosensitive drum 4, and
The formation, development, and primary transfer of an electrostatic latent image are sequentially performed for each of the colors magenta, cyan, and black in the same manner as in the case of yellow, and four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5a. These toner images are secondarily transferred collectively to the transfer paper 21 supplied from the feeding / conveying means.

Then, the transfer paper 21 after the secondary transfer is conveyed to the fixing device 13 by the conveyance belt 12, where the toner image is fixed, and then the discharge guide 19 and the discharge roller 20.
Is discharged onto the discharge tray 1a above the image forming apparatus A, thereby completing the image formation.

{Structure of Process Cartridge} As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 3 is provided with a charging device 4a and a cleaning device 4c around a photosensitive drum 4 and has a cleaning frame 4e and a charger cover 4g. The cartridge frame 4f is integrated with the movable body (not shown) as a cartridge guide so as to be detachable. The cartridge frame 4f of the process cartridge 3 includes a side plate 22 (see FIG. 2) which is a support member extending forward toward both ends in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 4 and the charging device 4a. A waste toner container 4d is formed on the front side with the cleaning frame 4e in the middle, and a handle 23 is provided at the rear end of the cleaning frame 4e.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show details of the process cartridge 3. FIG. 2 is a top view of the process cartridge 3, and a developing roller 1 of a developing device (any one of 10Y to 10BK) is located at a developing position P3 above the photosensitive drum 4 in the drawing.
0b abuts.

The first waste toner tray 2 has a developing position P3
Has a predetermined depth at which the waste toner can be collected, has a width with a certain margin on the photosensitive drum 4 and developing roller 10b side, and is designed to be longer than the longitudinal size of the photosensitive drum 4 and developing roller 10b. The photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 10b are arranged below a developing position P3 where the developing roller 10b contacts the photosensitive drum 4.

The first waste toner tray 2 is supported by side plates 22 extending from both sides of a cleaning frame 4e constituting a waste toner container 4d of the process cartridge 3.
Further, the first waste toner tray 2 and the side plate 22 are formed of the same member as the exterior of the process cartridge 3. The side plate 22 is a support member for the waste toner tray 2, is fixed to both longitudinal end surfaces of the cartridge frame 4 e, and is formed integrally with the waste toner tray 2. Waste toner tray 2
Is located between the developing position P3 and the transfer position P4. The photosensitive drum 4 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 4 with a gap S (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner tray 2 is longer than the photosensitive drum 4 and protrudes to both sides of the photosensitive drum 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the waste toner tray 2 is a container having an open top, and the bottom 2a is substantially horizontal when the process cartridge 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, and is closed around the bottom. It has an edge 2b in the shape of an arrow. Development position P
The vertical plane passing through 3 passes through a substantially central portion surrounded by the edge 2b. A front edge 2b1 of the edge 2b is close to the outer periphery of the developing rotary 9 in a state where the process cartridge 3 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 1. The waste toner tray 2 is close to the transfer belt 5a above the tension roller 6a as shown in FIG. Since the waste toner tray 2 is disposed in this way, even if the toner falls from the developing position P3, the dropped toner enters the waste toner tray 2 and accumulates in the waste toner tray 2, so that the transfer belt 5
There is no possibility that the toner dropped from the developing position is applied to a.

Since the waste toner tray 2 functions during the life of the process cartridge 3 designed in accordance with the life of the photosensitive drum 4, the waste toner tray 2 does not require a large capacity. Therefore, the space for the waste toner tray 2 occupied in the apparatus main body 1 is small, and the height of the waste toner tray 2 is small. No need to do.

(Embodiment 2) An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views of a process cartridge with a waste toner tray according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Exposure portion of photosensitive drum 4, developing roller 10
b, the portions facing the transfer belt 5a (the exposure position P2, the development position P3, and the transfer position P4 side) are exposed. When the process cartridge 3 is outside the apparatus main body 1, a drum shutter is provided to protect the exposed portion. The drum shutter closes when the process cartridge 3 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1 and opens when the process cartridge 3 is mounted inside the apparatus main body 1 so as to be linked to the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 3.

Although the first embodiment also includes a drum shutter, the description is omitted. The drum shutter described in the second embodiment is applicable to the first embodiment. However, the lid of the waste toner tray unique to the second embodiment is not provided.

{Structure of Drum Shutter} The structure of the drum shutter will be described with reference to FIGS.

Drum shutters 101 and 102 serving as opening and closing members for opening and closing the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 4 are used when the process cartridge 3 is detached from the apparatus main body 1 of the image forming apparatus A and is handled outside the image forming apparatus A. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is covered and the process cartridge 3 is attached to the image forming apparatus A so as to prevent the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 4 from being damaged or exposed and exposed to external light to deteriorate the photosensitive layer. When the photosensitive drum 4 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, an image forming portion for exposing the photosensitive drum 4 is exposed, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 to be opposed to the developing device 10 and the intermediate transfer body 5 is opened. ing. An exposure position P2, a development position P3, and a transfer position P4 are set on the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 4 (see FIG. 1).

The second arm 105 is pin-connected to the end plate 4e1 of the cleaning frame 4e by a root connecting portion 108. The distal end of the second arm 105 and the root side of the first arm 104 are pin-connected by an arm connecting portion 107. The distal end of the first arm 104 is connected to the shutter support coupling portion 106 at the longitudinal end of the second shutter 102.
It is pin-connected. These first and second arms 104, 105 are provided with first and second shutters 101,
102 are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction.

The first and second shutters 101 and 102 are pin-connected at a shutter connecting portion 103. First,
The second shutters 101 and 102 close the portion where the photosensitive drum 4 is exposed from the cartridge frame 4e so as to cover the photosensitive drum 4 along the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 as shown in FIG. Is possible.

The arm connecting portion 107 of the first and second arms 104 and 105 is attached to the arm connecting portion 107 in FIG. 5 in a direction in which the angle θ formed by the first and second arms 104 and 105 is reduced. A biasing torsion coil spring (not shown) is provided. Also, the back sides of the first and second shutters 101 and 102 (the sides facing the photosensitive drum 4 in the closed state) are brought closer to the shutter coupling portion 103 of the first and second shutters 101 and 102. , A torsion coil spring (not shown) is provided. Further, a torsion coil spring (not shown) for urging the second arm 105 in a counterclockwise direction is provided on a root joint 108 which is a joint between the second arm 105 and the waste toner container 4d.

As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge 3
Are outside the main body 1, the connecting portions 103 and 10 are respectively provided.
The first and second shutters 101 and 102 are connected to the photosensitive drum 4 by the not-shown torsion coil springs
Is closed along the circumference. That is, the second arm 105
The first arm 104 is urged counterclockwise around the root joint 108 by a torsion coil spring (not shown), and the first arm 104 is urged counterclockwise about the arm joint 107. First
Joint 10 between the arm 104 and the second shutter 102
Reference numeral 6 denotes a cylinder of the drum supporting portion 4f1 of the cartridge frame 4e which is about to rotate counterclockwise about the arm connecting portion 107 in FIG. Cannot move against the edge 4f2 of the shape. The cylindrical edge 4f2 has the same center as the photosensitive drum 4 and has substantially the same radius as the photosensitive drum 4. Since the back sides of the first and second shutters 101 and 102 tend to approach each other with the coupling portion 103 as a center, the first and second shutters 101 and 102 are spaced along the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4.

The second arm 105 has an arm connecting portion 10
7 has a cam follower (not shown). When the process cartridge 3 is inserted substantially horizontally with the handle 23 rearward from the right side of the apparatus main body 1 in FIG. 1, the guide (not shown) of the process cartridge 3 is directly or via the movable body in the apparatus main body 1 as described above. F, the cam follower hits a cam fixed to the apparatus main body 1 and the second
Arm 105 rotates clockwise about the root joint 108, and the arm joint 10 at the tip of the second arm 105.
7, the first arm 104 is drawn by the second arm 105 and moves upward in FIG. 5 since the first arm 104 is drawn by the second arm 105 because the circular arc trajectory is centered on the root joint 108.
Shutter support joint 1 while reducing the angle θ between
06 is a drum supporting portion 4f1 along the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4.
3d, the free end 102a of the second shutter 102 is rotated around the shutter support connection portion 106 while the cartridge frame at the front upper portion of the waste toner container 4d is rotated. It moves along the detachable charger cover 4g, which is a part of 4e. Further, when the process cartridge 3 is pushed into the image forming apparatus main body 1, the second arm 105 further rotates clockwise, and the shutter coupling portion 103 moves along the charger cover 4g, and the first and the second arms 105 move. The second shutters 101 and 102 are stored on the cleaning frame 4e.

The first and second shutters 101 and 10
When the second arm starts to be opened, the first and second arms 104, 10
5 is urged so as to reduce the angle θ with the arm connecting portion 107 as a vertex, the shutter supporting connecting portion 106 slides in contact with the edge 4f2 of the drum supporting portion 4f1 of the cartridge frame 4e. When the free end 102a of the second shutter 102 comes over the charger cover 4g, the charger cover 4g is farther from the photosensitive drum 4, so that the second shutter 102 moves far from the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. , The shutter connecting portion 103 is the cartridge frame 4
f on the edge 4f2 of the drum support 4f1, and
The first shutter 101 is urged counterclockwise by a torsion coil spring (not shown) around the shutter coupling portion 103 in FIG.
The first free end 101a slides on the edge 4f2 of the drum support 4f1 of the cartridge frame 4f. Therefore, the portion of the second shutter 102 near the shutter coupling portion 103 passes upward through the gap S between the trailing edge 2b of the first waste toner tray 2 and the photosensitive drum 4. Further, the first shutter 101 moves along the photosensitive drum 4, moves upward in the gap S, and passes through the gap S.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the first waste toner tray 2 is located just below the developing device P3 where the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing roller 10b are close to the tip of the side plate 22.
Is fixed, and a lid 100 is further attached to the second shutter 102.
Was fixed. The lid 100 fixed to the shutter 102 closes the first waste toner tray 2 when the shutters 101 and 102 are closed. Therefore, as described above, since the second shutter 102 moves upward with the opening of the shutters 101 and 102, the lid 100 leaves upward from the first waste toner tray 2, and the lid 100 moves upward together with the second shutter 102. Move, shutter 101,
When the shutter 102 is fully opened, as shown in FIG.
1 and 102 are stored on the joint 103.

The lid 100 has an edge 100a all around. The upper edge of the first waste toner tray 2 can be covered with the edge 100a. Therefore, when the process cartridge 3 is handled outside the apparatus main body 1, there is no possibility that the waste toner is spilled from the second waste toner tray 2.

The operation for closing the shutters 101 and 102 is the reverse of the above. When the process cartridge 3 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1, the first waste toner tray 2 is closed.
Is closed by the lid 100, and the operability of the process cartridge 3 is improved because there is no possibility that the waste toner spills out of the first waste toner tray 2 and scatters.

[0059]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, by providing the process cartridge with the waste toner tray, the waste toner can be collected at the developing position, and the intermediate transfer provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent the replacement parts such as the body, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body and the transfer material from being stained.

Further, the waste toner can be recovered by a simple operation at the same time as the replacement of the process cartridge. Since the replacement cycle can be shortened by providing the waste toner tray in the process cartridge having a much shorter life than the image forming apparatus main body, the capacity of the waste toner tray can be reduced.

Further, when the lid is automatically placed on the waste toner tray, the toner accumulated in the waste toner tray does not spill even if the process cartridge is tilted when the process cartridge is replaced.

In the above, since the waste toner tray is disposed between the developing position on the side of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the transfer position on the lower side of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the waste toner tray is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body. There is no effect on the arrangement of the developing means and the intermediate transfer means that optimizes the above.

By providing a gap through which the shutter can freely move between the waste toner tray and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the waste toner tray does not restrict the structure of the shutter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the process cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus for explaining a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus main body 1a ... Paper discharge tray 2 ... 1st waste toner tray 2a ... Bottom 2b ... Edge 2b
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Leading edge 2b2 ... Trailing edge 3 ... Process cartridge 4 ... Electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 4a ... Charging device 4b ... Exposure means 4c ... Cleaning device 4d ... Waste toner container 4e ...
Cartridge frame 4e1 End plate 4f1 Drum support 4f2 Cylindrical edge 4g Charger cover 5 Intermediate transfer member 5a Intermediate transfer belt 5e Cleaning unit 6a Tension roller 6b Secondary transfer facing roller
6c drive roller 7 primary transfer roller 8 secondary transfer roller 9 developing rotary 10 developing device 10a application roller 10b developing roller 10c toner regulating blade 10d shaft 10
Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK Developing device 12 Conveyor belt 13 Fixing device 13a Driving roller 13b Fixing roller 14 Pickup roller 15 First paper feed roller 16 Second paper feed roller 17 Guide before registration 18 ... Registration roller 19 ... Discharge guide 20 ... Discharge roller 21 ... Transfer paper 22 ... Side plate 23 ... Handle 24 ... Paper feed cassette 100 ... Lid 100a ... Edge 101 ... Drum shutter 101a ... Free end 102 ... Drum shutter 102a ... Free end 103 ... Shutter coupling part 104 first arm 105 second arm 106 shutter support coupling part 107 arm coupling part 108 root coupling part A image forming apparatus P1 charging position P2 exposure position P3 developing position P
4: Transfer position P5: Cleaning position

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; A process cartridge, comprising: a cartridge frame that supports and incorporates the process means; and a waste toner tray provided below a developing position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. 2. A shutter which has a position to close an exposed portion exposed to the outside of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a position to expose the exposed portion, and has a shutter movable between these positions. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner tray is disposed between a developing position on a side of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a transfer position on a lower side of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. 3. The process cartridge according to 2. 4. The waste toner tray is in the form of an elongated container arranged along the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and is supported by the cartridge frame with support members at both longitudinal ends. The process cartridge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is located outside the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction, and has a gap between the waste toner tray and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum through which a shutter can freely move. The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein 6. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner tray is provided integrally with the cartridge frame. 7. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a process for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the outside. A cartridge frame supporting and incorporating the process means, a position for closing the exposed portion exposed to the outside of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a position for exposing the exposed portion. A shutter movable between positions; a waste toner tray provided below the developing position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a lid for the waste toner tray when the process cartridge is pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. Position and a position where the waste toner tray is opened when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Process cartridge and having a, a lid which is movable between. 8. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the lid is provided on the shutter and opens and closes according to an opening and closing operation of the shutter. 9. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cartridge frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum so as to be exposed to the outside, and incorporating the process unit; and the electrophotography. A waste toner tray provided below the developing position of the photosensitive drum, and mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having: b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium.