JP2000321854A - Developing device, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A developer accommodating frame and a developing frame can be easily combined without causing distortion, and disassembly and reassembly of the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame are provided. Provided are a developing device, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached. A developing device (D) includes a developing frame (10f).
Or the entirety of the connecting portion with the developer accommodating frame 10a is formed of a metal frame. In the process cartridge B, the connecting portion of the developing frame 10f with the developer accommodating frame 10a or the entirety thereof is formed of a metal frame. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a developing device, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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

A process cartridge is a unit 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. . 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.

[0004] A developing device is used for a process cartridge which is detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.
A developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is housed therein, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by developing the electrostatic latent image with the developer by a developing unit.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, a cartridge is integrally formed with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge is used for image forming. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the forming apparatus main body is employed. According to the process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

In such a process cartridge, a resin-made toner storage container frame, which is a developer storage frame that stores toner as a developer, receives toner from an opening of the toner storage container frame. A developing device for visualizing a latent image on an electrophotographic photoreceptor by integrally bonding a developing container frame made of resin, which is a developing frame for supplying the toner to a developing roller as a developer carrier, by ultrasonic welding. It constitutes the main frame of the device. The reason for forming the main frame of the developing device by combining the toner container frame and the developing container frame in this manner is that molding restrictions are imposed on the case where these container frames are injection-molded as one part. For example, it is because integral molding is impossible or extremely difficult due to a so-called undercut or the like. The process cartridge is collected after the toner is used.For example, in a developing device, the toner storage container frame and the developing container frame forming the main frame are cut and re-divided, and the reusable parts are re-used. After being removed, it crashed and was reclaimed as container frame material.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art, and the main object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily and without distorting the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device that can be combined and that can disassemble and reassemble the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame so that both frames can be reused.

Another main object is to enable the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame to be easily coupled without causing distortion, and to disassemble the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame.
An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge capable of reassembling and reusing both frames.

Another main object is to enable the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame to be easily coupled without causing distortion, and to disassemble the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge capable of being reassembled and capable of reusing both frames can be detachably mounted.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical construction of the developing apparatus of the present invention is a developing apparatus used in a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the body using a developer, and a developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing means, A developing frame coupled to the developer accommodating frame, supporting the developing means, and receiving supply of developer from the developer accommodating frame to the developing means; Wherein the connecting portion with the developer accommodating frame or the entirety thereof is formed of a metal frame.

A typical configuration of the process cartridge of the present invention for achieving the above object is a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image using a developer, a developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing means, and the developer accommodating frame. A developing frame coupled to a frame, supporting the developing unit, and receiving a supply of the developer from the developer accommodating frame to the developing unit; and A process cartridge characterized in that a joint portion with the storage frame or the entirety thereof is formed of a metal frame.

A typical configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows. In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the process cartridge is detachable. (A) an electrophotographic photoreceptor, developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor using a developer, and development used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing means A developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer, the developer accommodating frame being coupled to the developer accommodating frame, supporting the developing means, and receiving a supply of the developer from the developer accommodating frame to the developing means. A developing frame, and a mounting unit for detachably mounting a process cartridge composed entirely of a metal frame, or a coupling portion of the developing frame with the developer accommodating frame, (B) the record And conveying means for conveying the body, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus characterized by having a.

(Operation) In the above-mentioned developing device, the developing frame composed of a metal frame and the developer accommodating frame can be connected by screws. This makes it possible to easily disassemble and reassemble the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame. If both frames are disassembled and cleaned, the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame can be reused as they are. .

In the above-described process cartridge, the developing frame made of a metal frame and the developer accommodating frame can be connected by screws. This makes it possible to easily disassemble and reassemble the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame. If both frames are disassembled and cleaned, the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame can be reused as they are. .

In the above-described electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing frame composed of the metal frame of the process cartridge and the developer accommodating frame can be connected by screws. This makes it possible to easily disassemble and reassemble the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame. If both frames are disassembled and cleaned, the developing frame and the developer accommodating frame can be reused as they are. .

[0016]

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

In this embodiment, a laser beam printer will be described as an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

First, FIGS. 1 to 1 show a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted.
This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views of the appearance of the process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is mounted, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a process cartridge, and FIGS.

Here, as the order of the description, first, the overall configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described, and then the configuration of the process cartridge will be described.

(Overall Configuration) As shown in FIG. 3, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) A uses a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, photosensitive) based on image information from an optical system 1. A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating the latent image onto a photosensitive drum 7, and the latent image is developed with a developer (hereinafter, referred to as "toner") to form a toner image. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the sheet is separated and fed one by one from a cassette 3a containing a recording medium (recording material, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) 2 by a pickup roller 3b and a pressing member 3c pressed against the cassette 3a. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a conveying unit 3 including a conveying roller pair 3d, a registration roller pair 3e, and the like, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 formed as a process cartridge B as a transfer unit is transferred as The voltage is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the image onto the recording medium 2, and the recording medium 2 is transported to the fixing unit 5 by the transport belt 3 f. The fixing means 5 includes a driving roller 5a, a fixing rotator 5d including a heater 5b and a cylindrical sheet rotatably supported by a support 5c, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough. The applied voltage fixes the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is discharged to a discharge roller pair 3
g, 3h, and is configured to be discharged to the discharge unit 6 through the reverse transfer path. Note that this image forming apparatus A
Can also be manually fed by a manual tray 3i and a roller 3j.

(Process Cartridge) On the other hand, the process cartridge B is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Etc.

In the process cartridge B shown in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a photosensitive drum 7 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer is rotated, and a voltage is applied to a charging roller 8 which is a charging means. The surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged, and a light image from the optical system 1 is exposed to the charged photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 9 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 10 is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image. That is, the charging roller 8 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and charges the photosensitive drum 7. The charging roller 8 is driven and rotated by the photosensitive drum 7. The developing means 9 supplies toner to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 7 to
Is developed.

The developing means 10 is provided with a rotatable toner feeding member 10b2, which is a toner feeding means, for transferring toner in a toner storage container frame 10a, which is a developer storage frame, to an opening 10g of the toner storage container frame 10a. And the toner is sent through the opening 10g into the developing container frame 10f which is the developing frame. The toner is agitated by a toner agitating member 10bl to rotate a developing roller 10d as a developer carrying member having a fixed magnet 10c therein, and to apply a triboelectric charge by a developing blade 10e as a developer layer thickness regulating member. Developing toner layer 1
The toner image is formed on the surface of Od and transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image and visualizing the toner image. Here, the developing blade 10e is made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber or silicon rubber having elasticity, and regulates the layer thickness of the toner amount on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 10d and imparts a triboelectric charge.

Reference numeral 10h denotes an antenna rod which is a developing roller 1
The remaining amount of toner is measured by measuring the capacitance of 0d.
That is, the toner sent from the toner container frame 10a by the toner sending member 10b2 is interposed between the antenna rod 10h and the developing roller 10d. Antenna rod 10h
And the developing roller 10d are electrically connected to the respective contacts which are electrically connected to the external portion (outer surface portion) of the cartridge B and are exposed.
These contacts are further connected to contacts arranged on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body 14 side. Image forming apparatus main body 1
4 is provided with measuring means for measuring the capacitance between the antenna rod 10h and the developing roller 10d, and constantly monitors the capacitance. When the toner is consumed and the toner in the toner container frame 10a is exhausted, and the toner between the antenna rod 10h and the developing roller 10d is consumed, the capacitance is reduced. When the capacitance becomes smaller than a predetermined value, it is displayed that the remaining amount of toner is small. Such a method of detecting the remaining amount of toner is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-6092.

After the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 11a. The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 11 which is scooped and collected in the removed toner storage section 11c.

The photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8, the developing roller 10d and other members are composed of a developing unit D as a developing device and a cleaning frame 13 as a support frame.
The cartridge is housed in a cartridge frame C formed by combining the image forming apparatus and a cartridge. The cartridge mounting means (see FIGS. 6 and 7) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 14 has an arrow P direction (see FIG. 3). Removably attached to. The developing unit D includes a toner container frame 10a that rotatably supports the toner feeding member 10b2, a toner stirring member 10bl, a developing roller 10d, and a developing blade 10e.
The developing container frame 10f containing a developing member such as the above and the lid member 10i are joined and integrated. The cleaning frame 13 constitutes a removed toner storage unit 11c, and includes the photosensitive drum 7, the cleaning blade 11a,
1b and the charging roller 8 are supported. The cartridge frame C is formed by connecting the developing unit D and the cleaning frame 13.

Incidentally, the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10 constituting the main frame of the developing unit D are described.
f is made of a resin material (plastic). Specifically, as the plastic material forming the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10f, for example, polystyrene, ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), modified PPE resin (polyphenylene ether) ), Modified PPO resin (polyphenylene oxide), polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the opening / closing member 15 is opened around a shaft 15a of the image forming apparatus main body 14, a space of a cartridge mounting portion appears, and a cartridge mounting guide member A guide rail 16 is disposed (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
When the process cartridge B is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 8, the boss 18a and the rib 18b are used.
Along the guide rail 16 so that the process cartridge B
Is inserted under the optical system 1 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 so as to be inserted. The guide rail 16 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and the guide member 17 above the guide rail 16 also has a shape following the shape, and the rib 18b has a similar substantially arc shape. The cartridge B becomes substantially horizontal. When the process cartridge B is further pushed in, as shown in FIG. 8, the abutting members 19 provided on the image forming apparatus main body 14 abut on abutting surfaces 20 provided near both ends of the leading end of the cleaning frame 13. Then, the boss 18a (see FIG. 1) of the process cartridge B falls into the receiving recess 16c (see FIG. 6) formed at the end of the guide rail 16. As a result, the drum flange 7a (see FIG. 1) fixed to the side end of the photosensitive drum 7 meshes with the drive gear 22 (see FIG. 7) on the image forming apparatus main body 14 side.
The driving force can be transmitted to the process cartridge B.

(Frame Structure of Developing Unit (Developing Apparatus))
Here, the frame structure of the developing unit is shown in FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10f, respectively.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, an opening 10g for sending out toner from the toner storage container frame 10a to the development container frame 10f is provided on the joint side of the toner storage container frame 10a with the developing container frame 10f. Is provided. A surface 10p is provided around the opening 10g, and a groove 10r is provided on the surface 10p in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the lower joint 10q. The longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 2 and is horizontal. The surface (joining side surface) of the developing container frame 10f facing the toner storage container frame 10a in FIG. 12 is a flat surface 10s, and the groove 1 of the toner storage container frame 10a extends along the longitudinal direction along the edge of the flat surface 10s.
A ridge 10t fitted to 0r is provided. A triangular ridge for ultrasonic welding is provided on the top surface of the ridge 10t (not shown). Therefore, the toner feeding member 10b
2. After the components such as the toner stirring member 10b1 and the antenna rod 10h are assembled respectively, the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10f are the same as the toner container frame 10a.
The groove 10r is fitted with the ridge 10t of the developing container frame 10f, and is ultrasonically welded along its longitudinal direction.

The joining method of joining the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10f by ultrasonic welding as described above has already been used for many process cartridges, and its reliability has already been proven. However, its reliability was not easily obtained and was backed by a great deal of effort and strict quality control. As mentioned above,
Ultrasonic welding is a method of melting and joining the joints of the two container frames 10a and 10f. The principle is that a very high pressure is applied to the joints to apply minute and high-speed vibration to the two container frames. This is a method of joining by melting the joint by frictional heat between the bodies 10a and 10f. As described above, the joint extends over substantially the entire width in the longitudinal direction of both container frames 10a and 10f. Furthermore, since each of the container frames 10a and 10f is a molded product made of plastic, it is impossible to completely eliminate slight warpage or unevenness in the longitudinal direction. When a high pressure is applied due to such a slight warpage or unevenness of the joint surface, the pressure on the joint surface of each container frame 10a, 10f becomes non-uniform, and the melting amount of each container frame 10a, 10f Since a slight difference occurs or the other container frame is pulled by the slight warpage or unevenness of one container frame, the two container frames 10a and 10f after joining may be distorted.

A spacing member (not shown) is disposed on both sides of the developing roller 10d in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). The spacing member is pressed against the photosensitive drum 7 by pressing the spacing member. They face each other while maintaining a predetermined interval therebetween. Therefore, the generatrix of the developing roller 10d and the generatrix of the photosensitive drum 7 need to be arranged as parallel as possible. This is because if the parallelism shifts, the pressing force of the spacing members on both sides of the developing roller 10d becomes unbalanced, and in the worst case, a so-called one-sided state in which the predetermined spacing cannot be maintained.

Further, since the developing roller 10d is attached to the developing container frame 10f after the joining, if the developing container frame 10f after the joining is distorted, the attaching position of the developing roller 10d becomes the original attaching position. On the other hand, it is slightly shifted. As a result, a deviation occurs between the generatrix of the developing roller 10d and the generatrix of the photosensitive drum 7 attached to the cleaning frame 13. That is, since the generatrix of the developing roller 10d and the generatrix of the photosensitive drum 7 are displaced in parallel due to the distortion of the developing container frame 10f, the pressing force of the interval holding members on both sides of the developing roller 10d is reduced as described above. In the worst case where the imbalance occurs and the worst case, the predetermined interval cannot be maintained, which may result in an image defect.

Therefore, in order to minimize the distortion of the toner container frame 10a and the developing container frame 10f, not only the accuracy of the longitudinal joint of the two container frames 10a and 10f should be increased as much as possible, but also ultrasonic welding. A great deal of effort and time is spent optimizing the so-called welding conditions such as pressure, frequency, time, etc., and strict quality control is performed, such as conducting periodic sampling inspections after mass production after determining the optimal conditions. Was.

Further, the container frames 10a, 10
Since f cannot be re-divided and used again, re-dividing the container frames 10a and 10f has the same meaning as destroying. This may degrade the workability when disassembling the used process cartridge and retrieving and reusing the reusable parts, so-called recycling. More specifically, the welded container frames 10a, 1
If the toner container 0f is to be cleaned and reused, it is necessary to cover the opening 10g for feeding the toner from the toner container frame 10a to the developing container frame 10f with a tape-shaped sealing material. This is to prevent the toner from leaking due to vibration or impact during transportation until the user uses the process cartridge B after manufacturing it. When the user uses the process cartridge B, pull off one end of the sealing material to remove it. It has become. The sticking of the sealing material is performed in the toner container frame 10a.
Before welding the developer container frame 10f and the developing container frame 10f, the toner container is attached to the periphery of the opening 10g of the toner storage container frame 10a.
Therefore, after the two container frames 10a and 10f are joined, it is impossible to re-attach the container frames 10a and 10f, or the workability is significantly deteriorated. Further, since the longitudinal direction of both the container frames 10a and 10f is welded, the toner does not leak. However, in the short direction, the sealing material cannot be welded in order to pull the sealing material. In addition, it is necessary to provide a configuration in which the toner does not leak after being pulled. To satisfy this, both container frames 10a,
Before welding 10f, a sealing material S (see FIG. 12) such as foamed rubber is sandwiched in the developing container frame 10f. When the welded container frames 10a and 10f are reused, it is necessary to replace the sealing material S with a new one, but the container frames 10a and 10f once welded cannot be redivided as described above. Therefore, it is practically impossible to reuse both container frames 10a and 10f. Accordingly, the toner storage container frame 10a and the development container frame 10 constituting the main frame of the developing unit D
f, the toner storage container frame 10a
And the developing container frame 10f are cut and re-divided by a cutting device, and after removing parts such as a sealing material, they crash to regenerate as a material of the container frame.

(Reusable Frame Structure of Developing Unit)
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a reusable frame structure of the developing unit D is realized by forming the connecting portion of the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a with a metal frame. are doing.

The reusable frame structure of the developing unit will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a process cartridge in which the developing container frame of the developing unit is formed of a metal frame.
10 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning frame, a developing container frame, and a toner storage container frame for easy understanding of each unit constituting the process cartridge shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. It is a perspective view of a container frame.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, reference numeral 10f denotes a metal developing container frame which is formed by processing a single metal plate.
It is formed in a frame shape as shown in FIG. At both ends of the developing container frame 10f, an arm portion 10w is provided as an attaching portion for attaching to the cleaning frame 13, and a hole 10x is formed at a tip of the arm portion 10w. The cleaning frame 13 has mounting means (not shown), for example, a protrusion that fits into the hole 10x of the arm 10w. The hole 10x fits into the protrusion, whereby the developing container frame 10f is connected to the cleaning frame. 13 (see FIG. 9). That is, the developing container frame 10f is suspended from the cleaning frame 13 while the hole 1
It is attached so as to be rotatable about 0x.

Reference numeral 10u denotes a developing blade mounting base for mounting the developing blade 10e. The developing blade mount 10u is formed by bending and raising a part of the developing container frame 10f. In the present embodiment, the developing blade 10e is integrally adhered to the developing blade mount 10u by an adhesive means such as a double-sided tape or hot melt.

Reference numeral 10f4 denotes an auxiliary member as a holding portion for holding the developing roller 10d. The auxiliary member 10f4 is provided at the bent portion 10v of the developing container frame 10f.
It is attached to the female screw 10y2 of v by a screw 10z2. The auxiliary member 10f4 rotatably holds the developing roller 10d via a bearing (not shown), and forms a part of the developing container frame 10f.

Next, the mounting of the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a will be described.

9 and 10, reference numeral 10f3 denotes a tape-shaped sealing material for closing the opening 10g of the toner storage container frame 10a described above, which is adhered to the flange 10al of the toner storage frame 10a. I have. Sealing material 10f
On the opposite side of the bonding surface of No. 3, an inter-frame sealing material 10f2 that seals a coupling surface between the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a is attached. The interframe sealing material 10f2 is made of an elastic member such as malt plane (trade name) and is compressed and deformed between the two container frames 10a and 10f to maintain the sealing property. Then, by inserting a screw 10zl into a screw 10yl (see FIG. 11) provided on the developing container frame 10f, the developing container frame 1
At 0f, the toner container frame 10a is attached.
reference).

After the developer container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a have been joined in this manner, the developer container frame 1
A developing unit D, which is a developing device, is configured by attaching the developing roller 10d to 0f.

As described above, the developing unit D includes the arm portions 10w provided at both ends of the developing container frame 10f.
By fitting a projection (not shown) of the cleaning frame 13 into the hole 10x, the cleaning frame 13 is rotatably attached to the cleaning frame 13 (see FIG. 9). A spacing member (not shown) provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 10d abuts on the photosensitive drum 7 to be positioned on the cleaning frame 13. At the same time, the developing roller 10d and the photosensitive drum are moved by the spacing member. 7 is kept at a predetermined interval. The pressing force of the developing roller 10d against the photosensitive drum 7 depends on the weight of the developing container frame 10f and the toner container frame 10a, and as shown in FIG. 4, the developing container frame 10f and the toner container container 10a. Is ensured by the spring force of the spring member 26 disposed between them.

As described above, in the developing unit D according to the present embodiment and the process cartridge B having the developing unit D, the developing container frame 10f of the developing unit D is constituted by a single metal plate. The flatness of the joint portion between the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a is easier to produce than the developing container frame formed of resin, and the strength of the developing container frame 10f is also formed of resin. This can be significantly improved as compared with the developing container frame. Also,
Since the fixing method of the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a can also be screwed, the distortion that occurs when the resin container frames are welded and joined as described above may occur. There is no. As a result, the developing container frame 10
It is possible to prevent the displacement of the generatrix of the developing roller 10d and the generatrix of the photosensitive drum 7 of the cleaning frame 13 from being parallel to each other due to the distortion of f. Thereby, the developing roller 10d
Can prevent the imbalance of the pressing force of the spacing members on both sides in the longitudinal direction against the photosensitive drum 7, and can maintain a predetermined spacing between the developing roller 10 d and the photosensitive drum 7. The occurrence of image defects that occur when the interval cannot be maintained can also be eliminated. Further, since the two container frames 10f and 10a are connected to each other by the screw 10zl, the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a are combined.
When the developer container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a are reused, if the container frames 10a and 10f are disassembled and cleaned, the developer container frame 1 can be easily disassembled and reassembled.
0f and the toner container frame 10a can be reused as they are. Therefore, the ideal recycling of the developing container frame 10f and the toner storage container frame 10a becomes possible.

[Other Embodiments] In the developing unit D shown in the above-described embodiment, a metal developing container frame 10f and an auxiliary frame 10f4 constituting a part of the developing container frame 10f are provided. Are described separately, but the developing container frame 10f and the auxiliary frame 10f4 may be integrally formed as a metal frame. That is, the entire developing container frame may be formed of a metal frame.

In the developing unit D shown in the above-described embodiment, the arm 10w for attaching the metal developing container frame 10f to the cleaning frame 13 and the developing blade for attaching the developing blade 10e are provided. The example in which the mounting base 10u is formed integrally by bending and raising a part of the developing container frame 10f has been described. However, these arm portions 10w and the developing blade mounting base 10u are provided with the developing container frame 10f.
It is not necessary to form them integrally with each other, and a similar effect can be obtained by a structure formed separately from the developing container frame 10f and attached later.

Although the process cartridge shown in the above-described embodiment is for forming a single-color image, the process cartridge of the present invention is not only used for forming a single-color image, but also includes a plurality of developing means. The present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms a plurality of colors (for example, a two-color image, a three-color image, or a full-color image).

Various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down developing method, and a cloud developing method can be used as the developing method.

The electrophotographic photoreceptor is not limited to the above-mentioned photoreceptor drum, but includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor, and amorphous silicon is used as the photoconductor. , Amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and organic photoconductor (OP
C) and the like. The shape on which the photoconductor is mounted includes, for example, a rotating body such as a drum or a belt, and a sheet. In general, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder of aluminum alloy or the like. It is.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a so-called contact charging method is used for the structure of the charging means. However, as another structure, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a conventionally used tungsten wire. It is a matter of course that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, or the like, in addition to the roller type.

As a method of cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, a cleaning means may be constituted by using a fur brush, a magnetic brush, or the like in addition to the cleaning blade.

The process cartridge described above is
For example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of the process means
It has one. Therefore, as an aspect of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning means are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is a type in which an electrophotographic photoreceptor and two or more of the above-mentioned process means are combined into a cartridge to be integrally detachable from the apparatus main body.

That is, the above-described 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 detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. . In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it refers to a device in which at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge can be detached by the user himself or herself. Therefore, the maintenance of the apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be used in other electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a word processor.

[0058]

As described above, in the developing device of the present invention, the developer accommodating frame and the developer accommodating frame can be easily connected without causing distortion. Both frames can be reused by allowing disassembly and reassembly with the developing frame.

Further, the process cartridge of the present invention comprises:
The developer accommodating frame and the developing frame can be easily combined without causing distortion, and the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame can be disassembled and reassembled, so that both frames can be reused. can do.

Further, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention
The developer accommodating frame and the developing frame of the process cartridge can be easily combined without causing distortion,
Further, both the frames can be reused by disassembling and reassembling the developer accommodating frame and the developing frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge viewed from a left outer side surface.

FIG. 2 is an external plan view of the process cartridge as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus illustrating a state where a process cartridge is attached and detached.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a right side guide configuration of an image forming apparatus main body for guiding attachment and detachment of a process cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a left guide configuration of an image forming apparatus main body for guiding attachment and detachment of a process cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, divided into units.

FIG. 11 is a single-piece view of a metal developing container frame of the process cartridge according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

12 is a perspective view of the resin developing container frame shown in FIG. 4;

13 is a perspective view of the resin toner container frame shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Recording medium 3 ... Conveying means 7 ... Electrophotographic photoreceptor 8 ... Charging means 10 ... Developing means 10a ... Toner storage container frame 10d ... Development roller 10e ... Development blade 10f ... Development container frame 10f4 ... Auxiliary member 10u ... Development Blade mounting base 10w Arm 11 Cleaning means 13 Cleaning frame 14 Electrophotographic image forming apparatus body B Process cartridge D Developing unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer, wherein the developing device is used in a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body; A developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer used for developing an electrostatic latent image by the developing means; and a developer accommodating frame coupled to the developer accommodating frame and supporting the developing means. And a developing frame that receives a supply of the developer from the frame to the developing unit. The connecting portion of the developing frame with the developer accommodating frame, or the entirety of the developing frame is formed of a metal frame. A developing device, characterized in that: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit includes a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and a developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer carried by the developer carrying member. And
2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer accommodating frame constituted by the metal frame has an attachment portion for attaching the developer layer thickness regulating member. 3. 3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer accommodating frame composed of the metal frame has a holding portion for holding the developer carrier. 4. The developer layer thickness regulating member is an elastic body integrally connected to a mounting portion of the developer accommodating frame constituted by the metal frame, and is provided on the developer carrier. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the developer is regulated by pressing.
3. The developing device according to claim 1. 5. The developer accommodating frame composed of the metal frame has an attachment portion for attaching to a support frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member. 5. The developing device according to claim 4. 6. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the developer accommodating frame formed of the metal frame is rotatably mounted on the support frame via the mounting portion. . 7. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer. A developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer used for developing an electrostatic latent image by the developing means; and a developing means coupled to the developer accommodating frame and supporting the developing means, A developer frame that receives supply of developer from the developer housing frame to the developing means, and a joint portion of the developing frame with the developer housing frame, or the entirety thereof is formed of a metal frame. A process cartridge comprising: 8. The developing means has a developer carrier for carrying a developer and a developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer carried by the developer carrier. And
8. The process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the developing frame formed of the metal frame has a mounting portion for mounting the developer layer thickness regulating member. 9. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the developing frame formed of the metal frame has a holding portion for holding the developer carrier. 10. The developer layer thickness regulating member is an elastic body integrally connected to a mounting portion of the developing frame formed of the metal frame, and is in pressure contact with the developer carrying member. 9. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the layer thickness of the developer is regulated by controlling. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said developing frame formed of said metal frame has a mounting portion for mounting to a supporting frame supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 12. The process cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the developing frame formed of the metal frame is rotatably mounted on the support frame via the mounting portion. 13. The electrophotographic photoconductor, wherein the process cartridge includes at least one of a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photoconductor, a cleaning unit for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photoconductor, and the electrophotographic photoconductor. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is integrally formed with the developing unit, and the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 14. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and an electrostatic member formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developing unit for developing the latent image using a developer, a developer accommodating frame for accommodating a developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit, and the developer accommodating frame. A developing frame coupled to and supporting the developing unit and receiving supply of the developer from the developer storing frame to the developing unit, the developer storing frame of the developing frame being provided. (B) mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge composed entirely of a metal frame or a connection portion with the process cartridge;
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium.