JP4513928B2 - Process unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a photosensitive cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a copying machine, a facsimile, a laser printer, or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that records a character or image data by transferring a visible image formed by supplying a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor (photoconductor drum) onto a recording medium. In order to facilitate maintenance, for example, in Patent Document 1, a photosensitive cartridge including at least a photosensitive member is mounted on a main body (housing) of an image forming apparatus, and then development including a developer storage chamber and a developing roller is performed. The cartridge is configured to be detachable from the main body housing so that the developing roller comes in contact with and separates from the photosensitive member. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-319285 discloses a structure in which a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge are connected to each other by pins so that the cartridges can swing.
JP-A-8-54786

  However, in the former configuration, since the developing cartridge and the photosensitive cartridge are separate, the contact portion with the developing roller is greatly exposed to the photosensitive cartridge with the developing cartridge removed. The photosensitive cartridge housing is provided with shutters that can be opened and closed at a plurality of locations. Further, since the sectional shape of the photosensitive cartridge housing is substantially elliptical, the location of the shutter is the surface of the table. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be stably placed on the surface of a flat table or the like.

  On the other hand, in the latter configuration, when placed on a flat surface such as a table, the photosensitive cartridge and the developing cartridge rotate at the position of the pin for connection and cannot be placed in a stable posture. In order to remove the cartridge, the pin must be removed and the spring connecting the lower surfaces of both cartridges must be removed, which makes the replacement work extremely troublesome, and the housing of the photosensitive cartridge after removing the developing cartridge. In view of the cross-sectional shape of the body, it was difficult to place it on the table in a stable posture.

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and can be placed on a flat surface of a table or the like with a photosensitive cartridge alone or in combination with a developing cartridge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photoreceptor cartridge that can be easily operated.

In order to achieve the above object, a process unit of the present invention supplies a developer in contact with a photosensitive cartridge having a photosensitive drum having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the photosensitive drum. And a developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the photosensitive cartridge, and the photosensitive cartridge and the developing cartridge are integrated with each other and are attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus provided with guide means. The developing roller in the developing cartridge is disposed in the developing case, and bearing members are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft of the developing roller protruding from the side surface of the developing case. Is opened and comes into contact with the bearing body and the housing formed with a housing portion for housing the developer cartridge from above. In this manner, the guide groove provided in the housing for guiding the developer cartridge to the housing portion and the bearing body are restricted from moving upward, and abut against the developer cartridge, Locking means for preventing the developing cartridge from being pulled upward; and biasing means for biasing the developing case in a direction of biasing the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum at a downstream end in the guiding direction of the guide groove. , wherein the guide groove, the formed on the upper end surface of both side walls of the housing, and the bearing body in the guiding direction downstream end of the guide groove is configured to restrict the movement upwards The biasing means is provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the housing and is configured to rotate between a biasing position that biases the developing case and a non-biasing position that does not bias the developing case. As When the mounting operation for storing the developing cartridge in the storage portion is completed, the photosensitive cartridge and the developing cartridge are integrally mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. when, characterized that you pivots the urging position wherein the moving working portion is pushed up said non-biased position by the guide means.

With the above configuration, the present invention has an effect of facilitating replacement of the developing cartridge with respect to the photosensitive cartridge.

1 is a schematic sectional side view of a printer as an image forming apparatus. It is a side view which shows the state which starts insertion of a process unit in a main body housing. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the photosensitive member cartridge. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the photosensitive member cartridge taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a right side view of the photoreceptor cartridge. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the photoreceptor cartridge. FIG. 3 is a front view of a photosensitive cartridge. It is a partially cutaway sectional view showing a pressing portion of a transfer roller. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8. It is a perspective view which shows a biasing means and a to-be-acted part. (A) is a top view of a locking means, (b) is a XIb-XIb arrow directional cross-sectional view of Fig.11 (a). (A) is a left side view of the developing cartridge, and (b) is a right side view. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a developing cartridge. It is the XIV-XIV arrow line view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the bearing body of the right-and-left both sides of a developing roller. It is a top view of a process unit. It is a right view of a process unit. It is a left view of a process unit. It is the XIX-XIX line arrow figure of FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing in the middle of insertion in the main body housing of a process unit, (b) is explanatory drawing of the state which advanced further. It is explanatory drawing of the state which set the process unit in the main body housing. It is a figure which shows the drive system of a printer.

  Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a laser beam printer will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional side view of a printer as an image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which the process unit 2 starts to be mounted on the main body housing 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a right side view of only the photosensitive cartridge, FIG. 6 is a left side view of only the photosensitive cartridge, and FIG. 17 is a drawing of the developing cartridge 4 in the photosensitive cartridge 3. FIG. 18 is a left side view of the photosensitive cartridge 3 with the developing cartridge 4 set therein.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a process unit 2 including a photosensitive cartridge 3 and a developing cartridge 4 is detachably disposed at a substantially central portion in a main body housing 1 of the printer. A fixing unit 5 is disposed adjacent to the process unit 2, a sheet feeding unit 6 is disposed below the process unit 2, and a sheet feeding cassette 8 can be mounted from the front (arrow A) direction at the bottom of the main body housing 1. .

  In addition, a laser scanner unit 7 is attached to the lower surface side of the synthetic resin cover body serving paper discharge tray 1a via a frame.

  When print data is transmitted from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer in response to a print command, the cut paper P as a recording medium stacked on the support plate 9 of the paper feed cassette 8 is fed by the paper feed unit 6. As the roller 10 rotates, the sheet is separated one by one by the separation pad 11, and then the photosensitive drum 13 as the photosensitive member in the process unit 2 and the transfer unit that presses the lower surface side thereof through the registration roller pair 12a and 12b. It is conveyed between the transfer roller 14. On the other hand, the laser beam emitted from the emission hole on the lower surface of the frame that supports the laser scanner 7 including the laser light emitting unit, the polygon mirror 18, the lens 19, and the plurality of reflecting mirrors 20 is a case in the process unit 2, that is, a photosensitive member. The upper peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is irradiated from the light incident portion 31 on the upper side of the case 30 of the body cartridge 3, and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is exposed corresponding to the print data to form an electrostatic latent image. Is done.

  Further, as will be described later, the developer (toner) supplied from the developing roller 22 in the developing cartridge 4 adheres to the electrostatic latent image, is visualized, and is visible by the developer (toner) on the photosensitive drum 13. After the image is transferred to the sheet P, the sheet P fed between the heating roller 15 and the pressure roller 16 in the fixing device 5 and subjected to the heating and fixing action is discharged from the sheet discharge path 17 to the cover body combined discharge tray. It is discharged on 1a.

  In this embodiment, the process unit 2 includes a photosensitive cartridge 3 having at least a photosensitive drum 13 and a developing cartridge 4 having at least a developing roller 22 as developing means in a case 21 as a casing. 4 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the photosensitive member cartridge 3, and is configured so that the developing roller 22 cannot be detached by the action of a lock means 46 described later.

  Next, the configuration of the photosensitive member cartridge 3 and the developing cartridge 4 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the photosensitive drum 3 has a photosensitive drum 13 rotatably supported on one side of a case 30 as a synthetic resin casing. A lower wall 30a of the case 30 closes the lower side of the transfer roller 14 serving as a transfer means disposed below (see FIG. 4). The transfer roller 14 is supported by its own weight so as to be movable up and down so as to be separated from the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 13. When the transfer roller 14 is set as the process unit 2 in the main body housing 1, the transfer roller 14 is disposed on both left and right sides in the main body housing 1. The bearing push-up body 34 urged upward by the spring 33 pushes up the upward U-shaped bearing 35 fitted to both ends of the shaft 14a (see FIGS. 8 and 9), and the transfer roller 14 is moved to the photosensitive drum 13. It is arranged so that it can be raised and lowered so as to press the lower surface (transfer area) of the sheet.

  A light incident portion 31 that irradiates the upper surface side of the photosensitive drum 13 with the laser beam from the laser scanner unit 7 on the upper wall 30b covering the upper side of the photosensitive drum 13 in the case 30 as the casing of the photosensitive cartridge 3. Is formed longitudinally along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 13, and a charger 36 such as a scorotron for charging a photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 13 such as an organic photosensitive member is adjacent to the light incident portion 31. Installed. An electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning the laser beam on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 uniformly charged by the charger 36, and a thin layer of toner supplied by a developing roller 22 described later is statically discharged. After being attached to the electrostatic latent image to be visualized (visualized), it is transferred to the paper P in the press transfer area with the transfer roller 14.

  The portion of the case 30 excluding the upper wall 30b is surrounded by left and right side walls 30c and a bottom wall 30a having a substantially arcuate shape, and the upper part is opened, so that the developing cartridge 4 can be attached and detached from obliquely upward. Thus, a storage portion 32 is formed so that it can be stored.

  Bearing bodies 23 a and 23 b (see FIGS. 13 to 15) that are rotatably mounted on both ends of the shaft 22 a of the developing roller 22 are slidable on the upper end surfaces of the left and right side walls 30 c of the case 30. A downward arc-shaped guide groove 37 for guiding while supporting is extended so as to approach the shaft 13 a of the photosensitive drum 13. Thus, when the developing cartridge 4 is set on the photosensitive cartridge 3, the developing roller 22 can be brought close to the photosensitive drum 13 (see FIG. 4).

  Further, urging means 42 for pressing the developing roller 22 against the photosensitive drum 13 via the developing cartridge 4 is mounted on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 30c so as to be rotatable and extendable. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the urging means 42 includes a rotation fulcrum member 39 in which rotation support shafts 39a and 39b are integrally projected on the left and right sides, and the rotation fulcrum member 39 is slid inside. A frame-like slide support member 40 that is movably supported, and a coil spring-like biasing spring means 41 that is disposed within the frame of the slide support member 40 and biases the rotary fulcrum member 39 against one side. It is comprised by. The slide support member 40 is provided with a horizontal columnar moving action portion 43. The moving action portion 43 protrudes outward from the guide holes 44 formed in the left and right side walls 30c. Are arranged as follows.

  Then, a lock means 46 for preventing the developing cartridge 4 fitted in the storage portion 32 from coming out upward is provided inside one side wall 30c (in the embodiment, the right side wall) of the photosensitive cartridge 3. Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 11 (a), and 11 (b), the lock means 46 is configured such that the rotation shaft 48 that penetrates the side wall 30 c can rotate with respect to the side surface of the lock lever body 47. The lower portion of the resin spring 49 that is pivotally supported and extends downward from the lower end of the lock lever body 47 is disposed so as to abut against a regulating piece 30 d that protrudes upward from the bottom wall 30 a of the case 30. . Further, on the lower surface of the lock lever body 47, one (right side) one of the actuated portions 61 having a substantially inverted triangular shape in a side view projecting outward from the left and right side surfaces of the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4 as described later. When the upper surface moves upward, it has an arcuate contact portion 47a for contacting and restricting the movement.

  The actuated portion 61 is also used for the locking means 46 and is also used for the biasing means for pressing and biasing the developing roller 22 against the photosensitive drum 13. Yes.

  Further, the storage portion 32 of the photosensitive cartridge 3 is provided with a plurality of rotatable rollers 50 as receiving members protruding upward from the bottom wall 30a of the case 30 (in the embodiment, at two left and right end portions). (See FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The roller 50 as a receiving member is a part of the weight of the developing cartridge 4 on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 13 across the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22 when the developing cartridge 4 is dropped and stored in the storing portion 32. Take it. Specifically, the roller 50 receives a lower surface portion of a downwardly convex curved toner storage chamber 24 (see FIGS. 1, 12A, and 12B) provided in the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4. The backlash at the time of attaching / detaching the case 21 is reduced.

  The upper roller 12a of the pair of registration rollers is mounted on the bottom wall 30a of the case 30 of the photosensitive cartridge 3 so as not to fall off, and the pair of registration rollers 12a and 12b to be conveyed are adjacent to the bottom wall 30a. A horizontally long introduction hole 51 for introducing the passed paper P into the transfer portion 52 between the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer roller 14 is formed. A large number of ribs 53 are provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 30a adjacent to the introduction hole 51 up to the transfer portion 52 so as to smoothly convey the lower surface of the paper P with a small contact resistance from the introduction hole 51. A protrusion is provided so as to extend in the direction of the transfer portion 52.

  Next, the configuration of the developing cartridge 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 12 (a), and 12 (b) to 15. The toner in the downwardly convexly curved toner storage chamber 24 in the case 21 is stirred and released by a rotationally driven stirrer 27, and then carried on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 22 via a supply roller 25, and the blade 26. Thus, the toner layer thickness is regulated (see FIG. 1). In addition, a substantially inverted triangular actuated portion 61 is integrally formed on both the left and right outer sides of the toner accommodating chamber 24 in the case 21.

  The bearing bodies 23a and 23b made of a material having a small friction coefficient such as polyacetal resin that is rotatably fitted to the left and right ends of the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22 are respectively formed in the annular groove 63 so that they cannot be removed from the shaft end. An engaging claw 62 to be fitted is provided. An umbrella-shaped (conical) shaft diameter adjusting portion 64 whose diameter gradually increases is formed on the base end side of each bearing body 23a, 23b, and at least one (right in the embodiment) bearing body 23b has a spring means 65. Thus, it is slid and biased laterally outward (see FIG. 15). Accordingly, the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22 is not rattled with respect to the guide grooves 37 provided on the left and right side walls 30c, 30c of the photosensitive cartridge 3 in a state where the developing cartridge 4 is set at a predetermined position of the photosensitive cartridge 3. It is designed to be pivotally supported.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 16, and FIG. 19, the upper and lower surfaces of the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4 are alternately provided with horizontally elongated ridges and concave grooves for easy handling and the like. Grip portions 70 and 66 that are formed in a horizontally long shape and have a concavo-convex cross section are provided. Further, the photosensitive member cartridge 3 can be stably placed on the table 67 in a state where the photosensitive member cartridge 3 is used alone or in a state where the developing cartridge 4 is stored and set in the storage portion 32 of the photosensitive member cartridge 3. On the lower surface side of the case 30, a plurality of (minimum two, preferably four) grounding portions 69a and 69b are provided.

  In this case, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, 17, and 18, the bottom surface of the case 30 is grounded so as to be grounded on both sides across the center of gravity of the photosensitive cartridge 3 in a side view of the photosensitive cartridge 3. The grounding portions 69a and 69b are provided so as to protrude downward at the front and rear end portions, so that it is stable when placed on the table 67.

  Further, the grounding portions 69a and 69b at the front and rear portions are preferably positioned so that the centers of gravity of both the cartridges 3 and 4 are sandwiched on both sides even when the developing cartridge 4 is stored in the storage portion 32 of the photosensitive cartridge 3. With this setting, even if the operation of positioning the developing cartridge 4 is performed with the photosensitive cartridge 3 placed on the table 67, the photosensitive cartridge 3 does not exhibit unstable behavior such as shaking. It is. As shown in FIG. 7, the grounding portions 69a and 69a of the front portion may be provided at both left and right ends of the lower surface of the case 30, but the longest grounding portion is formed by projecting the lowermost portion of the case 30 into a left and right longitudinal shape. It may be formed as follows.

  Next, an operation for setting the developing cartridge 4 in the photosensitive cartridge 3 will be described. Since the gripping portions 70 and 66 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the front end portion of the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4, the operator holds the upper and lower gripping portions 70 and 66 with one hand and holds the developing cartridge 4 on the developing roller 22 side. Can be easily inserted from the rear side of the case 30 of the photosensitive cartridge 3 toward the upwardly open storage portion 32. By this mounting operation, the actuated portion 61 comes into contact with the lock lever body 47, and the lock lever body 47 is rotated to the position of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 against the biasing force of the resin spring 49. The actuated portion 61 is lowered downward, the contact between the actuated portion 61 and the lock lever body 47 is released, and the lock lever body 47 returns to the solid line state of FIG. The contact portion 47a of the lock lever body 47 and the upper surface of the actuated portion 61 face each other and are locked, so that the photosensitive cartridge 3 and the developing cartridge 4 are united and cannot be separated. Therefore, as will be described later, the process unit 2 in which the photosensitive cartridge 3 and the developing cartridge 4 are integrated can lift the upper and lower gripping portions 70 and 66 while holding them with one hand. What is necessary is just to insert it in the predetermined | prescribed location of the main body housing 1 continuously, without changing.

  That is, as the developing cartridge 4 is inserted, the bearing bodies 23a, 23b at the left and right side ends of the developing roller 22 are formed in the guide grooves 37, 37 formed along the upper edges of the left and right side walls 30c, 30c of the case 30. While sliding, it slides down so as to approach the shaft 13a of the photosensitive drum 13. In this case, since the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4 can be rotated around the bearing bodies 23a and 23b with respect to the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22, the guide grooves 37 and 37 are substantially close to the shaft 13a (sideways). When the bearing bodies 23a and 23b are positioned on the U-shaped portion), the toner storage chamber 24 side of the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4 rotates about the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22, and the storing portion in the photosensitive cartridge 3 It can be set to fit into 32.

  In this state, the lower surfaces of the case 21 on the toner storage chamber 24 side are in sliding contact with the rollers 50, 50 in the storage portion 32, and the bearing members 23a, 23b are moved to a position where the developing roller 22 is almost closest to the photosensitive drum 13. Moves along the guide grooves 37, 37. When the lock lever body 47 rotates clockwise from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 to the position indicated by the solid line, the contact portion 47a of the lock lever body 47 moves to the upper surface (projection portion) of the actuated portion 61. 61a), so that the developing cartridge 4 cannot be removed from the photosensitive member cartridge 3.

  FIGS. 16 to 19 show a plan view, a right side view, a left side view, and a rear view (sheet exit side view) of the process unit 2 in a state in which the developing cartridge 4 is set in the photosensitive cartridge 3, and the energizing is shown. Since the slide support member 40 of the means 42 is pushed downward by the actuated portion 61 by the downward pushing movement of the developing cartridge 4, the biasing means 42 is moved by the moving action portion 43 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The posture in which is down is normal.

  The process unit 2 is configured to be attachable and detachable in a state where the lid 1b at the right end (front side) of the main body housing 1 in FIG. 1 is rotated downward to be opened widely (see FIG. 2).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, and FIG. 21, a pair of left and right guide means 55 (on the right side in the drawing) The guide means 55 is open upward and tilts downward from the rising slope surface which slopes upward as it goes from the right end of the main body housing 1 to the back side, after its apex portion 55d. The upper guide surface 55a formed as described above and the upper guide surface 55a are disposed below, tilted downward from the right end of the main body housing 1 toward the back side, and end at the position of the lower roller 12b of the registration roller pair. And a lower guide surface 55b.

  FIG. 2 shows a position where the process unit 2 starts to be inserted into the main body housing 1 and the shaft 13a of the photosensitive drum 13 is pushed in so as to approach the upper back side 55c of the upper guide surface 55a. Next, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the moving action portion 43 of the urging means 42 abuts against the rising inclined surface of the upper guide surface 55a, and on both the left and right sides of the process unit 2 (photoreceptor cartridge 3). A derivative 56 (only one of them is shown in the drawing) projecting laterally toward the lower end side fits into the lower guide surface 55b, and the process unit 2 cannot be pulled upward with respect to the main body housing 1 and follows the lower guide surface 55b. Can only be pushed in.

  In this state, as the process unit 2 is pushed in, the movement action portion 43 is pushed up by the upper guide surface 55a, so that the slide support member 40 rotates upward about the rotation support shaft 39a (39 (b)). By moving, the actuated portion 61 in the developing cartridge 4 is restrained in the direction of pushing on the tip side of the slide support member 40. The slide support member 40 is rotated upward as much as possible when the moving action portion 43 is located at the apex portion 55d of the upper guide surface 55a. In this posture, the actuated portion 61 is restrained on the distal end side of the slide support member 40. (See FIG. 20B).

  When the process unit 2 is further pushed in and the operator releases the process unit 2 in a state where the shaft 13a of the photosensitive drum 13 is set at a predetermined position on the back side 55c above the upper guide surface 55a, the process unit 2 2, the roller 12a of the registration roller on the lower surface side of the case 30 of the photosensitive cartridge 3 is placed on the lower roller 12b disposed on the main body housing 1 side and pressed by the spring 45 shown in FIG. At the same time, the developing cartridge 4 is settled down so that the derivative 56 is supported at an appropriate position of the guide means 55 (see FIG. 21).

  In the set state as described above, the actuated portion 61 is pushed on the distal end side of the slide support member 40. Thereby, the developing roller 22 can be pressed against the photosensitive drum 13 via the developing cartridge 4 by the biasing means 42 and the actuated portion 61.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the contact portion (the closest approach and pressing portion) 72a (the axis connecting the shaft 13a of the photosensitive drum 13 and the shaft 22a of the developing roller 22) between the photosensitive drum 13 and the developing roller 22 is provided. On the line 72, the pressing action line 71 (the rotation support shaft 39 a (39 (b)) of the biasing means 42 with respect to the acting part 61 and the tip of the slide support member 40 are connected to the acting part 61. A line connecting the pressed point that is in contact) or on the action line 71 so that the action line 71 and the inter-axis line 72 are substantially coincident or nearly parallel. It is preferable to set to.

  As shown in FIG. 22, a gear mechanism 74 for transmitting the power of the drive motor 73 is disposed on the inner surface of one side (left side in the embodiment) of the main body housing 1, and the paper feed roller 10 of the paper feed unit 6, the resist The lower roller 12b of the roller pair, the developing roller 22, the photosensitive drum 13, the heating roller 15, and the transport roller in the paper discharge path are driven to rotate. At this time, the developing roller 22 and the photosensitive drum 13 are opposite to each other as shown in FIGS. 1 and 21, that is, the developing roller 22 rotates counterclockwise, and the photosensitive drum 13 rotates clockwise. And the peripheral speed of the developing roller 22 is set to be faster than that of the photosensitive drum 13.

  In the configuration described above, the biasing means 42 is provided at a location away from the developing roller 22 into which the developing cartridge 4 is inserted in the storage portion 32 in the photosensitive cartridge 3, while the developer (on the side far from the developing roller 22 ( Since the actuated portion 61 is provided so as to protrude outwardly from the outer wall of the toner storage chamber 24, these components are unlikely to interfere with the attaching / detaching operation of the developing cartridge 4.

  By providing the biasing means 42 having a complicated structure on the side of the photosensitive cartridge 3 with a low replacement frequency, and providing the acted portion 61 with a simple structure on the side of the developing cartridge 4 with a high replacement frequency, the running cost of the development cartridge 4 is increased. Can be reduced. Further, since the actuated portion 61 provided in the developing cartridge 4 is formed so as to integrally project on the side surface of the case 21, the actuated portion 61 can be formed simultaneously with the molding of the case 21, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It becomes easy to act so as to be pressed by the slide support member 40 of the urging means 42 provided on the photosensitive cartridge 3 side.

  A pair of left and right urging means 42 are arranged on the inner surfaces of the left and right sides of the photoconductor cartridge 3, and the respective urging means 42 are mounted so that the posture can be changed between the urging direction and the non-urging direction. Since the developing roller 22 is not pressed against the photosensitive drum 13 simply by placing the developing cartridge 4 on the photosensitive cartridge 3, the development unit 22 can be developed even if the cartridges 3 and 4 are packed together as the process unit 2. The outer peripheral surface of the roller 22 is not permanently deformed, and the photosensitive drum 13 is not contaminated by components contained in the developing roller 22.

  The urging means 42 includes a rotation fulcrum member 39, a slide support member 40 slidable with respect to the rotation fulcrum member 39, and an urging spring 41 mounted between the two members. Therefore, the degree of freedom to change the posture between the urging direction and the non-biasing direction is greater than when the urging spring 41 directly presses or releases the actuated portion 61, and There is an effect that the slide support member 40 can surely press and release the operated portion 61.

  Further, the rotation fulcrum member 39 is rotatably mounted on the inner surfaces of the left and right sides of the case 30 that is the housing of the photosensitive cartridge 3, so that the developing cartridge is independent of the photosensitive cartridge 3 alone. 4, the parts of the urging means 42 are not exposed to the outside of the case 30, and the parts of the urging means 42 are not accidentally touched and damaged. It becomes easy.

  The slide support member 40 is integrally provided with a lateral pin-shaped moving action portion 43 for guiding in the biasing direction and the non-biasing direction, and the movement action portion 43 is a housing of the photosensitive cartridge 3. Since most of the parts of the urging means 42 are not exposed outside the case 30, the parts of the urging means 42 are accidentally touched and damaged. It is easy to handle.

  Further, the actuated portion 6 protruding from the left and right outer surfaces of the case 21 of the developing cartridge 4 has a function of being pressed and urged by the urging means 42, and a lock lever body 47 of the lock means 46. On the other hand, since it becomes a common part having a function of preventing the developing cartridge 4 from being lifted, the manufacturing cost of the developing cartridge 4 can be greatly reduced.

  The process unit 2 is configured to be detachably attached to the main body housing 1 of the image forming apparatus, and the urging means 42 is attached to the main body housing 1 as the process unit 2 moves in the attachment / detachment direction. Since the guide means 55 for guiding to the biased state and the non-biased state is provided, the posture of the biasing means 42 can be changed with a single touch by simply attaching and detaching the process unit 2 to the main body housing 1. As a result, the action of the urging means 42 can be switched and changed, and the operation is extremely simple.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body housing 2 Process unit 3 Photosensitive cartridge 4 Developing cartridge 13 Photosensitive drum 13a Shaft 14 Transfer roller 21 Case as housing 22 Developing roller 22a Shaft 23a, 23b Bearing body 24 Toner accommodating chamber 30 Case 30a Bottom Wall 30c Side wall 32 Storage part 37 Guide groove 39 Rotating fulcrum member 39a, 39b Rotating spindle 40 Slide support member 41 Biasing spring means 42 Biasing means 43 Moving action part 46 Locking means 47 Lock lever body 48 Rotating shaft 49 Resin spring 50 Roller 55 Guide means 55a Upper guide surface 55b Lower guide surface 56 Derivative 61 Actuated part 67 Table 69a, 69b Grounding part 71 Pressing action line 72 Interaxial line 72a Contact part

Claims (3)

A photosensitive member cartridge having a photosensitive drum having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, and a developing roller for supplying developer in contact with the photosensitive drum, and being attached to and detached from the photosensitive member cartridge and a developing cartridge capable, the photosensitive member cartridge and said developing cartridge integrally to a process unit detachably der Ru to an image forming apparatus provided with a guide means,
The developing roller in the developing cartridge is disposed in a developing case;
At both ends of the rotating shaft of the developing roller protruding from the side surface of the developing case, bearings are provided respectively.
The photosensitive cartridge is opened at the top, and the housing is formed with a housing portion for housing the developing cartridge from above, and the developer cartridge is guided to the housing portion by contacting the bearing body. A guide groove provided in the housing, and a lock means for contacting the developing cartridge so that the bearing body is restricted from moving upward so that the developing cartridge does not come out upward. And an urging means for urging the developing case in a direction of urging the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum at a downstream end in the guiding direction in the guide groove,
The guide groove is formed on upper end surfaces of both side walls of the housing, and is configured to restrict the bearing body from moving upward at a downstream end in the guide direction of the guide groove .
The biasing means is provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the housing and is configured to rotate between a biasing position that biases the developing case and a non-biasing position that does not bias the developing case. The image forming apparatus main body is integrated with the photosensitive cartridge and the developing cartridge when the mounting operation for storing the developing cartridge in the storage portion is completed. process unit, wherein the rotation to Rukoto to the urging position when mounted, from said mobile working portion is pushed up said non-biased position by the guide means. The guide direction downstream end of the guide groove supports the bearing body so that the developing cartridge can swing and rotate with the bearing body as a rotation center,
After the bearing body is supported at the downstream end of the guide groove in the guide direction, the locking means swings around the bearing body and is completely stored in the storage portion. The process unit according to claim 1, wherein the process unit is configured to restrict upward movement of the developing cartridge.   The process unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grounding portions that can be stably placed on a flat surface are formed on a lower surface of the housing.