imaging apparatus and system comprising a cartridge detachably mountable to an imaging apparatus

专利摘要:
IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE. It is an imaging apparatus that includes: a support member (Tray) that serves to support cartridges, the tray being movable to an external position, a first internal position, and a second internal position; a first cartridge-associated portion of the cartridges when the tray is located in the first internal position, and a first prevention portion, provided in the main assembly, for preventing rotation of the associated cartridge about the first positioning portion; and a second positioning portion, provided to the tray, for positioning the associated cartridge when the tray is located between the outer position and the second inner position. The second positioning portion is in a state in which the second positioning portion is spaced from the associated cartridge when the tray is located in the first internal position.
公开号:BR102012028057B1
申请号:R102012028057-4
申请日:2012-10-31
公开日:2021-06-22
发明作者:Masaaki Sato；Masatoshi Yamashita；Toshiharu Kawai
申请人:Canon Kabushiki Kaisha；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED TECHNIQUE
[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that serves to form an image on a recording material (medium), to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted, and relates to cartridges .
[0002] The image forming apparatus forms the image on a recording material using an image forming process, such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process or a magnetic recording process. Examples of the imaging apparatus may include a copying machine, a printer (LED printer, laser beam printer, or the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and a multifunctional machine of these machines. Recording material is a material on which the image is formed by the imaging apparatus, and is a sheet of paper, an OHT sheet, a label, or the like.
[0003] For example, the cartridge is a process cartridge or a developing cartridge, and, in a state in which it is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus of the imaging apparatus, it contributes to a process of image formation that serves to form the image on the recording material. The apparatus main assembly refers to a constituent portion of the apparatus which excludes the cartridge from the constitution of the imaging apparatus.
[0004] The process cartridge is prepared by integrally mounting an image bearing member on which a latent image will be formed and at least one of a loading medium, a developing medium, a cleaning medium as a process medium which acts on the image bearing member in a cartridge and is mounted detachably from the main assembly of the apparatus. The image bearing member is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording dielectric member in an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic magnetic recording member in a magnetic recording process, and the like. The process cartridge can be assembled and removed from the instrument main assembly by a user. For this reason, maintenance of the main assembly of the device can be easily carried out.
[0005] Therefore, the process cartridge includes a cartridge prepared by integrally assembling the image bearing member and the developing medium as the process medium and being detachably mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus. The process cartridge which includes the image bearing member and the developing medium integrally is referred to as an integral type. Furthermore, the process cartridge which includes the image bearing member and the process medium other than the developing medium integrally is termed as discrete type. That is, the developing medium is provided in a developing unit separate from the process cartridge, and the process cartridge, for forming the image, paired with the developing unit is referred to as a so-called discrete type.
[0006] In addition, the developer cartridge includes a developer roller (developer carrying member) and accommodates a developer (toner) used by the developer roller to develop the latent image formed on the image rolling member, and is detachably mounted on the main fixture of the instrument. Likewise, the developer cartridge is detachably mounted on the main assembly of the instrument by the user himself. For this reason, maintenance of the main assembly of the device can be easily carried out.
[0007] In the case of the developing cartridge, the image bearing member is mounted on the main assembly of the apparatus or on a cartridge support member. Or, the image bearing member is provided on said discrete-type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not include the developing medium).
[0008] Therefore, as for the cartridge, the integral type process cartridge and the discrete type process cartridge are included. In addition, the cartridge includes the case where the discrete-type process cartridge and the developer cartridge are used in a pair. Furthermore, the cartridge includes the case where the developing cartridge, in which the image bearing member is fixed to the main assembly of the apparatus or to the cartridge support member, which is actuable over the image bearing member and is mounted detachably from the image bearing member. In addition, the cartridge includes a developer cartridge that accommodates the developer (toner) to be supplied to the process cartridge, the developer cartridge, or the like.
[0009] For reasons of convenience, the electrophotographic imaging apparatus, such as the printer that uses the electrophotographic process, will be described as an example. The electrophotographic photosensitive member consisting of an image bearing member is electrically charged uniformly for selective light exposure to form the latent image. Then, the latent image is revealed by the developer, thus being visualized as a developer image. The developer image is transferred onto the recording material. The transferred developer image is subjected to the application of heat and pressure which will be fixed as a fixed image onto the recording material such that the image is recorded (formed).
[0010] This electrophotographic image forming apparatus has undergone a developer or maintenance supply of various process means. As a means to facilitate the developer supply operation or maintenance, all or part of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, loading medium, developing medium, cleaning medium, and the like, is integrally mounted in a cartridge in a frame . Furthermore, a type of cartridge is employed in which this cartridge is mounted detachably from the main assembly of the apparatus of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0011] According to this type of cartridge, the maintenance of the apparatus can be carried out by the user, in such a way that the operability can be considerably improved, therefore, the type of cartridge was widely used in the electrophotographic imaging apparatus.
[0012] In the present document, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided in which a plurality of cartridges are provided and arranged in the substantially horizontal direction. In order to facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the cartridges in relation to the electrophotographic imaging apparatus, a constitution was proposed to fully pull out a plurality of cartridges (Japanese Patent Application Open to Public Inspection (JP-A) Hsi 5-173375). In this constitution, a support member is provided which consists of a movable member capable of being inserted into and pulled out from the electrophotographic imaging apparatus and a plurality of cartridges are mounted on the support member.
[0013] Furthermore, for the purpose of regulating a position of a cartridge in a main assembly of the apparatus, there is a constitution in which a support member is provided with a rotation prevention (adjustment) portion and the cartridge is provided with a rotation prevention boss (JP-A 2008-292804). In this constitution, the rotation preventing portion provided to the support member and the rotation preventing protrusion of the cartridge are engaged with each other such that the position of the cartridge in the main assembly of the apparatus is regulated.
[0014] The present invention provides a further development of the prior art described above. That is, in conventional constitutions, a position adjusting portion for the cartridge has been provided to the support member which is the movable member. For this reason, in order to effect a positioning of the cartridge on the main assembly of the apparatus with high precision, there was a need to effect a positioning of the support member (relative to) the main assembly of the apparatus with high precision. Furthermore, there was a need to control a dimension of the support member with high accuracy, and particularly this was satisfied by the use of a metal plate as a material for a part intended for forming the rotation preventing portion of the support member. Support. This is because metal plate can generally be processed with a greater degree of precision than that of a resin material. However, as a result, costs have increased. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] A main objective of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and a cartridge that are able to effect a positioning of the cartridge in a main assembly of the apparatus with high precision and at low costs.
[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus serving to form an image on a recording material, comprising: a support member serving to support a plurality of cartridges, being that said support member is movable to an external position at which said support member is capable of being pulled out of a main assembly of said imaging apparatus and where cartridges are mounted detachably to the support member a first internal position where the cartridges are positioned to the main assembly in an internal part of the main assembly, and a second internal position where the support member is movable with respect to the external position and the first internal position in the internal part of the main assembly; a first positioning portion, provided in the main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of cartridges when the support member is located in the first internal position, and a first prevention portion, provided in the main assembly, to prevent rotation of the associated cartridge in around the first positioning portion; and; a second positioning portion, provided to the support member, for positioning the associated cartridge when the support member is located between the outer position and the second inner position, the second positioning portion being in a state in which the second positioning portion is spaced from the associated cartridge when the support member is located in the first internal position.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge releasably mounted to an imaging apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the imaging apparatus comprising: a member of support serving to support a plurality of cartridges, said support member being movable to an external position at which said support member is capable of being pulled out of a main assembly of said imaging apparatus and where the cartridges are detachably mounted to the support member, a first internal position where the cartridges are positioned to the main mount in an internal part of the main assembly, and a second internal position where the support member is movable to the external position and the first internal position inside the main assembly; a first positioning portion, provided in the main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of cartridges when the support member is located in the first internal position, and a first prevention portion, provided in the main assembly, to prevent rotation of the associated cartridge in around the first positioning portion; and a second positioning portion, provided to the support member, for positioning the associated cartridge when the support member is located between the outer position and the second inner position, the cartridge comprising: a first portion to be positioned serving to engaging the first positioning portion; a first portion to be avoided which serves to engage the first prevention portion: and a second portion to be positioned which serves to engage the second positioning portion, the second positioning portion being in a state in which the the second positioning portion is spaced from the associated cartridge when the support member is located in the first internal position.
[0018] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Figure 1A is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus in one mode, as seen from a drive side, in a state in which a front door is open and a tray (support member) is pulled out of an apparatus main mount through an opening in the apparatus main mount.
[0020] Figure 1B is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus as viewed from a non-drive side.
[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an external appearance of the imaging apparatus.
[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a longitudinal left side surface of the imaging apparatus.
[0023] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cartridge shown in Figure 3.
[0024] Part (a) of Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge as viewed from the drive side, and (b) of Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge as viewed from the non-drive side. drive.
[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which the front door is opened and the tray is moved upwards from a first internal position (I) to a second internal position (II).
[0026] Figure 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the tray is pulled out from the second internal position (II) to an external position (III) consisting of an external part of the main assembly of the apparatus.
[0027] Part (a) of Figure 8 is a perspective view showing positioning portions of the main assembly of the apparatus, and (b) of Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the positioning portions of the main assembly of the apparatus. and to-be-positioned portions of the cartridges.
[0028] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 9, (a) and (b) of Figure 10A, (a) and (b) of Figure 10B, (a) and (b) of Figure 11A, and (a) to (c) of Figure 113 are schematic views to illustrate a mechanism for moving the tray relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.
[0029] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 12 and (a) to (d) of Figure 13 are schematic views to illustrate a locking portion of the tray in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus.
[0030] Figure 14, (a) and (b) of Figure 15, and (a) and (b) of Figure 16 are schematic views to illustrate positioning portions of the tray and the portions to be positioned of the cartridges.
[0031] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 17 are schematic views to illustrate engagement between an inverted U-shaped groove member and a rotation prevention portion.
[0032] Parts (a) and (b) of Figure 18 are schematic views to illustrate the positioning portions of the main assembly of the apparatus and the portions to be positioned of the cartridge.
[0033] Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the conventional cartridge positioning method. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES [Mode 1] (General structure of the imaging apparatus)
[0034] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment, and Figure 3 is a left side longitudinal surface view of the imaging apparatus 1. The forming apparatus Image 1 is a four-color based color electrophotographic laser printer utilizing an electrophotographic process in which four (first to fourth) P process cartridges (PY, PM, PC, PK) are provided as a plurality of cartridges. The imaging apparatus 1 (printer) can form a color image based on four colors or a monochrome image on a sheet-like recording material based on an electrical image signal input from an external host device 200, such as a personal computer or an image reader on a control circuit portion (control circuit board) 100.
[0035] In the following description, a front side (front surface side) of the imaging apparatus 1 means the side on which an opening of the apparatus/closing door (front door) is provided 3. A rear side (side of rear surface) of apparatus 1 is the opposite side to the front side. A forward direction refers to a direction facing from the back side towards the front side and a backward direction refers to a direction opposite the forward direction. Left and right sides mean the left and right sides when apparatus 1 is viewed from the front side. A left direction refers to a direction facing from the right towards the left and a right direction refers to a direction facing from the left towards the right.
[0036] Up and down refer to an up and down direction in the direction of gravitation, and an up direction is a direction facing from below towards an up and a down direction is a direction towards from top to bottom.
[0037] Furthermore, a longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to a direction of the rotational axis of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 4 as an image bearing member. A width direction is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, one end side with respect to the longitudinal is a drive side, and the other end side is a non-drive side. In this mode, a right end side is the drive side, and a left end side is the non-drive side.
[0038] A cartridge accommodating portion 2A is provided within a main assembly of apparatus 2A. In this cartridge accommodation portion 2A, the four (first to fourth) PY, PM, PC and PK (process) cartridges are horizontally disposed from the rear side towards the front side of the main assembly of apparatus 2 (aligned structure or tandem type).
[0039] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a cartridge portion shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, each cartridge P is an integral type process cartridge that includes the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 4 as the image bearing member and includes, as a process medium acting on the drum 4, a loading medium, a developing medium and a cleaning medium.
[0040] In this embodiment, a loading roller 5 is used as the loading medium, a developing roller 6 is used as the developing medium, and a cleaning blade 7 is used as the cleaning medium. The respective P cartridges have the same electrophotographic process mechanism and are different in color from the developers (toners). A specific constitution of cartridge P will be described later.
[0041] The first PY cartridge accommodates the yellow (Y) toner in a developing device 9, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the drum surface 4. The second PM cartridge accommodates the toner of magenta (M) color in a developing device 9, and a magenta (M) color toner image is formed on the surface of drum 4. The third PC cartridge accommodates the cyan (C) color toner in a developing device. development 9, and a cyan (C) color toner image is formed on the surface of drum 4. The fourth PK cartridge accommodates the black (K) color toner in a developer 9 and a color toner image black (K) is formed on the surface of drum 4.
[0042] Each of the cartridges P accommodated in the cartridge housing portion 2A is driven from above through a biasing (pressure) mechanism 80 in a state in which the door 3 is closed relative to the main assembly of the apparatus 2. As a result, each cartridge P is fixed and positionally held by being pushed against a portion to be positioned, described below, on the main assembly side of apparatus 2.
[0043] In the state, a motive force to rotate the drum 4 from the main assembly side of the apparatus 2 to the cartridge P can be transmitted, such that the drum 4 is rotatably driven in an anti-clockwise direction. -time indicated by an arrow D at a predetermined peripheral velocity. In addition, a driving force for rotating the developing roller 6 from the main assembly side of the apparatus 2 to the cartridge P can be transmitted, such that the developing roller 6 is rotatably driven in a direction towards by an arrow E at a predetermined peripheral velocity. In addition, from the main assembly side of apparatus 2 to cartridge P, predetermined bias voltages (charge bias, development bias, and the like) can be applied towards the loading roller 5 and the development roller 6 .
[0044] Above the first to fourth PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges, an LB laser scanning unit is provided as an exposure medium. This LB scanning unit emits a modulated Z laser light corresponding to image information (photo) subjected to an image processing by the control circuit portion 100. The Z laser light passes through an exposure window portion 10 in an upper surface side of the cartridge P, thus subjecting the surface of the drum 1 to sweep exposure.
[0045] An intermediate transfer belt unit 12 as a transfer member is provided below the PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges. Belt unit 12 includes a drive roller 13, a rotating roller 14 and a tension roller 15 around which a flexible transfer belt 12 is stretched and stretched. The drive roller 13 and the tension roller 15 are provided on the rear side in the main assembly of the apparatus 2. The rotation roller 14 is provided on the front side of the main assembly of the apparatus 2, a lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P contacts an upper surface of an upper side belt portion of the belt 12. Within the belt 12, primary transfer rollers 17 are provided in contact with the upper side belt portion of the belt 12 in contact with the surface bottom of the drum 4 of the respective cartridges P. In each cartridge P, a contact portion between the drum 4 and the belt 12 is a primary transfer portion. A secondary transfer roller 17 contacts belt 12 and opposes drive roller 13 through belt 12. A contact portion between belt 12 and secondary transfer roller 17 is a secondary transfer portion.
[0046] Below unit 11, a feed unit (sheets) 18 is provided. Unit 18 includes a sheet feed tray 19 on which sheets of a recording material S are stacked and accommodated, a feed roller of sheets 20, a pair of delay rollers 20a and a pair of registration rollers 20b. Tray 19 is detachably mounted to apparatus main mount 2 from the front side of apparatus main mount 2 (front loading). A handle (retention) portion 19a is provided on a front surface plate of the tray 19. Furthermore, on the rear side of the main assembly of the apparatus 2, a clamping unit 21 and an unloading unit (sheets) 22 are provided. Furthermore, an upper surface of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 constitutes an unloading tray (sheets) 23. (Image forming operation)
[0047] An operation to form a color image takes place as described below. Drum 4 of each cartridge P is rotary driven at a predetermined control speed (arrow D in Figure 4). In addition, belt 12 is also rotatably driven in the same direction (arrow C in Figure 4) as the rotation direction of drum 4 at a speed that corresponds to the speed of drum 4. The LB unit is also driven.
[0048] In this mode, the charging roller 5 as the charging means is an electroconductive roller as a charging member by contacting the drum 4 with a predetermined driving force and is rotated by the rotation of the drum 4. In sync with Upon actuation of the LB unit, a predetermined load bias is applied to the load roller, 2 in each cartridge. As a result, the surface of the drum 4 is electrically charged uniformly at the predetermined polarity and potential.
[0049] The LB unit scans (exposes) the surface of each drum 4 with the Z laser light modulated correspondingly to the image signal to an associated color. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal for the associated color is formed on the surface of the drum 4. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is developed into a toner image by the development roller 6 driven in a rotary mode (arrow E of Figure 4) at a predetermined speed in the developing device (unit) 9. To the developing roller 6, a predetermined developing bias is applied.
[0050] By such an electrophotographic imaging process operation, a yellow (Y) toner image that corresponds to the yellow (Y) component image of a color image is formed on the drum 4 of the first PY cartridge. The toner image is transferred primarily over the belt 12 in the primary transfer portion of the PY cartridge. To transfer roller 16, a primary transfer bias is applied. Similarly, on the drum 4 of the second PM cartridge, a magenta (M) toner image is formed, which corresponds to the magenta (M) component image of the color image. The toner image is transferred primarily superimposed on the toner image, which has already been transferred over the belt 12, in the primary transfer portion of the PM cartridge.
[0051] Similarly, on the drum 4 of the third PC cartridge, a cyan toner image (C) is formed, which corresponds to the cyan component image (C) of the color image. The toner image is transferred primarily superimposed on the Y and M toner images, which have already been transferred onto the belt 12, in the primary transfer portion of the PC cartridge.
[0052] Similarly, on drum 4 of the fourth PK cartridge, a black (K) toner image is formed, which corresponds to the black (K) component image of the color image. The toner image is primarily transferred from Superimposed mode on the Y, M and C developer images, which have already been transferred over the belt 12, in the transfer portion of the PK cartridge.
[0053] Therefore, an unfixed color toner image based on the four colors Y, M, C and K is formed on the belt 12 which passes through the primary transfer portion of the fourth PK cartridge. In each cartridge P, a residual primary transfer toner that remains on the surface of drum 4 after the primary transfer of the toner images from drum 4 onto belt 12 is removed from the drum surface by wiper blade 7.
[0054] However, the feed roller 20 of the feed unit 18 is driven with a predetermined control timing. As a result, sheets of recording material S in tray 19 are loaded and then sorted and loaded one by one to the pair of delay rollers 20a. The recording material S is introduced into the secondary transfer portion by the pair of recording rollers 20b with a predetermined control timing and is then transported by tangency line. During tangency line transport of the recording material S in the secondary transfer portion to the secondary transfer roller 17, a predetermined secondary transfer bias is applied. As a result, over the recording material S, the superimposed four-color toner images are collectively transferred from the belt 12.
[0055] The recording material S coming out of the secondary transfer portion is separated from the surface of the belt 12 and then is guided in the clamping unit 21 to be subjected to heat and pressure in a clamping tangency line. As a result, the superimposed four-color toner images are merged and have their colors mixed together, thus being fixed as a color fix image. Then, the recording material S is moved out of the fixing unit 21, and then discharged as a colored image forming product onto the discharge tray 25 by the discharge unit 22. In this embodiment, a waste transfer toner which remains on the surface of the belt 12 after separation of the recording material S, in the primary transfer portion of the first process cartridge PY, is transferred back onto the surface of the drum 4 and then removed from the surface of the belt 12 Then, the surface of the drum 4 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 7 such that the secondary transfer waste toner is removed from the drum surface next to the primary transfer waste roller. (Constitution of P cartridge)
[0056] With reference to Figure 4 and (a) and (b) of Figure 5, a constitution of the cartridge P (PY, PM, PC, PK) in this embodiment will be described. Part (a) of Figure 5 is a perspective view of an external appearance of the cartridge P as viewed from a drive side (right end side), and (b) of Figure 5 is a perspective view of the appearance. cartridge P as viewed from a non-drive side (left end side).
[0057] The cartridge is roughly divided into a photosensitive drum unit 8 and a developer unit 9 as a developer device. The drum unit 8 includes the drum 4, the loading roller 5, a cleaning container 26 as a structure of the cleaning device, and the cleaning blade 7. The cleaning container 26 is integrally provided with a coating member. drive side (right side plate) 24 at one end and of a non-drive side casing member (left side plate) 25 with respect to its longitudinal direction.
[0058] The drum 4 is rotatably supported between the casing members 24 and 25 by the drive side and non-drive side bearing members (not shown) provided in lower portions of the casing members 24 and 25, respectively. The loading roller 5 is rotatably supported by movable bearing members 5a at its end portions and is pressed against the drum 4 with a predetermined pressure by a driving force of a driving member which serves to drive the bearing members 5a towards drum 4. Loading roller 5 is rotated by rotation of drum 4.
[0059] The cleaning blade 7 is an elastic rubber blade elongated in the longitudinal direction of the drum 4. This blade 7 is held by a supporting metal plate 7a and is fixedly provided on the cleaning container 26 through the metal plate of support 7a in a state in which its (free) end portion is in contact with the drum 4 with a predetermined pressure with respect to a direction contrary to a rotational direction of the drum 4. The primary transfer waste toner remaining on the The surface of the drum 4 is scraped off by the blade 7 and is collected in the cleaning container 26.
[0060] The developer unit 9 includes a developer container 29 as a structure of the developer device, the developer roller 6 as a developer transport member to supply toner to drum 4 to develop electrostatic latent image on the drum 4, and a developer setting member (developer blade) 6a. The developing roller 6 is rotatably supported by the developing container 29 or by the bearing member (not shown) for the drive side and non-drive side shafts provided in longitudinal end portions of the development container 29. developer adjusting member 6a is placed in contact with the developing roller at its end (free) portion and performs the function of regulating the toner in a thin layer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 6.
[0061] The developing unit 9 is oscillatingly provided around a predetermined oscillating axis portion (not shown) between the coating members 24 and 25. The developing unit 9 is oscillated and driven around a portion of oscillating shaft by a driving member (not shown) such that the developing roller 6 is in contact with the drum at predetermined pressure (contact development). In the case of non-contact development, the developing unit 9 is oscillated and driven around the oscillating shaft portion by the driving member, such that the spacer rollers provided on end portions of the developing roller 6 are in contact. with the drum 4 on end sides with a predetermined pressure and therefore the developing roller 6 opposes the drum 4 in a non-contact with a predetermined span.
[0062] A gap is formed between the cleaning container 26 and the developing container 29. In this gap portion, an opening in an upper surface side of the cartridge is an exposure window portion 10, and laser light Z of the LB unit enters the span portion through this window portion 10 to reach the drum surface 4.
[0063] On an outer surface side of the drive side casing member 24, a drum drive coupling 4a is provided as an input portion of drum drive 4. The coupling 5a is provided coaxially with a central shaft. drum rotation speed 4. Similarly, on an outer surface side of the liner member 24, a developer roller drive coupling 42 is provided as a developer roller drive input portion 6.
[0064] In a state in which the cartridge P is mounted and positionally secured to the cartridge accommodation portion 2A in the main assembly of the apparatus 2, to the cartridge 4a and to the cartridge 42, the couplings 91 and 92 (Figure 7) as a drive output portion on the main assembly side of the apparatus are connected, respectively, a developing force is inserted from the coupling 91 on the cartridge 4a, such that the drum 4 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed at a predetermined direction D. Furthermore, by inputting the motive force from the coupling 92 in the cartridge 42, the motive force is transmitted to the developing roller 6 through a gear train (not shown) in a gearbox 42a, of such that the developer 6 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed in a predetermined direction E.
[0065] Furthermore, in a state in which the cartridge P is mounted and positionally fixed in a predetermined manner to the cartridge accommodating portion 2A in the main assembly of apparatus 2, the electrical contacts (not shown) on the side of the cartridge P and the electrical contacts (not shown) on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 are electrically actuated with each other. As a result, it is possible to apply bias voltages (charge bias, develop bias, and the like) from the main assembly of the apparatus 2 to the load roller 5 and the development roller 6 in cartridge P.
[0066] Cartridge P includes arcuate portions 24a and 25a, as a first portion to be positioned, provided to drive side and non-drive side liner members 24 and 25, respectively. The arcuate portions 24a and 26a are provided downwardly at lower edges of the liner members 24 and 25, respectively, and are coaxial with the central axis of rotation of the drum 4 and have a diameter greater than the diameter of the drum 4. the cartridge P includes an inverted U-shaped groove member 24b as a first portion to be avoided on an outer surface of the drive side casing member 24.
[0067] In addition, the cartridge P includes protrusions 24c and 25c, as a second portion to be positioned, provided on the outer surfaces of the drive side and non-drive side liner members 24 and 25, respectively. In addition, the cartridge P includes a downward projection 24d, as a second portion to be avoided, 15 on a lower edge (end) portion of the drive side liner member 24. (Cartridge exchange method)
[0068] Since every first to fourth PM, PM, PC and PK cartridge is used for imaging, the developer stored in the developer unit 9 is consumed. For this reason, for example, the cartridge P is provided with a detection means (not shown) which serves to detect an amount of the developer remaining in each cartridge. A remaining amount value detected by the sensing means is compared, by the control circuit portion 100, with a predefined threshold (value) to provide a pre-warning or warning of cartridge life. When the amount of the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge is reduced to a value less than the threshold, the cartridge life notice or warning is displayed in a display portion (not shown) on the main assembly side of the instrument 2 or on the side of the host device 200. As a result, the imaging apparatus prompts the user to prepare a cartridge for exchange or to replace (exchange) the cartridge in order to maintain an output image quality.
[0069] In this mode, the apparatus 1 employs, in order to improve usability, an exchange method in which the cartridge P is placed in a movable member of the support member 70 so that it moves while supporting the cartridge P: tray cartridge) and is replaced in a front-access mode.
[0070] On the front side of the main assembly of the apparatus 2, an opening (main assembly opening) 2B to allow the passage of the cartridges along with the tray 70 therethrough is provided for the purpose of inserting the cartridges into the main assembly of the apparatus 2 and disassembling the cartridges P from the main assembly of the apparatus 2. The front door 3 as a movable opening member between a closed position in which the opening 2B is covered (closed) and an open position in which the opening 20 is exposed (open).
[0071] In this mode, the door 3 can be opened and closed and can be pivotally moved with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 around a central pivoting projection 3a on a side of the lower edge of the door. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the door 3 is raised and rotated around the protrusion 3a so that it is closed with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus 2, such that the opening 2B is closed (covered). Furthermore, the door 3 is rotated forwards around the protrusion 3a in a substantially horizontal direction, such that as shown in Figure 6, the door 3 is opened relative to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 and therefore the opening. 2B is considerably exposed. At port 3, a handle portion (retention) 31 is provided.
[0072] A constitution of tray 70 will be described with reference to Figures 1A and 1B, Figure 1A is a perspective view of tray 70, as seen from the drive side, showing a state in which door 3 is opened and tray 70 is pulled from the inside out of main assembly of apparatus 2 through opening 2B of main assembly of apparatus 2. Figure 1b is a perspective view of tray 70 as viewed from the non-drive side. Incidentally, the main assembly of the apparatus 2 is illustrated in a state of a metal plate structure constituting a frame of the main assembly of the apparatus omitting its outer casing. Furthermore, the metal plate is omitted in portions where the feed unit 18, the clamping unit 21 and the discharge unit 22 are provided.
[0073] Tray 70 is an open frame, on the top and bottom surfaces, including a rectangular frame portion (large). An inner portion of the frame is divided (partitioned) into 4 substantially equal parts by partition plates with respect to a front-rear direction, such that the first to fourth (four) elongated small frame portions 71 (71Y, 71M, 71C, 71K) are provided and arranged in the order of a rear side to a front side. The small frame portions 71Y, 71M, 71C and 71K are portions which serve to support the first to fourth PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges, respectively, by inserting the cartridges from above. Each small frame portion 71 is provided with an opening in its side surface on the drive side.
[0074] On upper edge portions of each small frame portion 71 on the drive side and on the non-drive side, as a second positioning portion, V(U) character portions 70a and 70b are formed which are open above, respectively. The protrusions 24c and 25c as the second portion to be positioned on the side of the cartridge P correspond to the character V portions 70a and 70b, respectively. Furthermore, each small frame portion 71 is provided with a preventing surface 70c as a second preventing portion on its inner lower portion on the drive side. The projection 24d as the second portion to be avoided on the cartridge side P corresponds to the preventing surface 70c.
[0075] The tray 70 is pulled from the inside out of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 in a state in which the door 3 is open and, therefore, the opening 2B is exposed, in such a way that it can adopt, as shown in Figures 1A , 1B and 7, an external position (III) where each cartridge P is detachably mounted. Furthermore, the tray 71 can adopt, in a state where the door 3 is closed, a first internal position (I) where each cartridge P is positioned to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 within the main assembly of the apparatus 2 as shown in Figure 3 .
[0076] In addition, the tray 71 can adopt, in a state in which the door 3 is open and therefore the opening 2B is exposed, a second internal position (II) as shown in Figure 6 located within the main assembly of the device 2 between the external position (Ill) and the first internal position (I). Tray 70 is moved from the first internal position (I) to the second internal position (II) and from the second internal position (II) to the first internal position (I) through a displacement mechanism, described below , operated in interrelation with the opening/closing of the door 3. A way of exchanging the cartridge P with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 is described in the following manner. (1) . As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in a state in which the door 3 is closed in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 and, therefore, the opening 2B is covered (closed), the tray 70 is held in the first internal position (I ) by the displacement mechanism. In this state, each cartridge P accommodated in the associated small frame portion 71 is pressed from above through a pressing mechanism 80 on the side of the drum unit 8 in the cartridge accommodating portion 2A within the main assembly of the apparatus 2. As a result, each cartridge P is pressed against the positioning portions, described below, on the main mounting side of the apparatus 2, thus being positionally fixed and held.
[0077] In addition, to couplings 4a and 42 of each cartridge P positionally fixed on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 as previously described, couplings 91 and 92 (Figure 7) as a drive output portion on the main mounting side of device 2 are connected, respectively. In addition, an electrical contact (not shown) on the cartridge P side and an electrical contact (not shown) on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 are electrically actuated. Furthermore, a lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P is placed in contact with the belt 12 such that the primary transfer portion is formed.
[0078] (2). In the above state, the apparatus 1 is capable of performing an imaging operation. In this state, a user performs an opening operation of door 3 as shown in Figure 6. In interrelation with this opening operation of door 3, during an initial stage of the opening operation of door 3, the couplings on the assembly side main of apparatus 91 and 92 perform a retraction operation from couplings 4a and 42 of each cartridge P, thus releasing the coupling connection. The electrical contact on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 is retracted from the electrical contact on the cartridge side P to eliminate electrical actuation.
[0079] Then, the pressure of the drum unit 8 of each cartridge P is removed by the pressure mechanism 80. Although a specific constitution of the pressure mechanism 80 is omitted from the illustration, it is possible to employ an appropriate mechanism constitution, such as a push/depressure mechanism that uses a solenoid and electromagnetic plunger or a push/depressure mechanism that uses a lever and a spring.
[0080] (3). Through the interrelated displacement mechanism with an additional opening operation of the door 3, the tray 70 is moved upwards from the first internal position (I) of Figure 3 inside the main assembly of the apparatus 2. In a state in which the door 3 is sufficiently open to a predetermined open position as shown in Figure 6, the tray 70 is located in the second internal position (II) where the tray 70 is lifted (moved upwards) from the first internal position (I) with a predetermined degree of movement within the main assembly of apparatus 2. Door 2 sufficiently open to the predetermined open position is stably maintained in the open position even when one hand is later withdrawn from door 3. Similarly, tray 70 is stably kept in the second internal position (II).
[0081] The lower edge portions of the drive side and non-drive side 70 and the frame portion, extending in the front-rear direction, of the tray 70 are slidably mounted on rails 73. The tray 70 is moved up and down by moving the rails up and down.
[0082] Each cartridge P is lifted along the upward movement of tray 70 while being supported by tray 70 from the intermediate flow of upward movement of tray 70 from the first internal position (I) to the second internal position (II ). As a result, each cartridge P rises from the second portion to be positioned on the main assembly side of the apparatus 2 and is moved away from the second portion to be positioned and, at the same time, the lower surface of the drum 4 is moved away from the top surface of the belt 12 so that it is placed in a non-contact state.
[0083] (4). By opening the door 3 sufficiently to expose the opening 2B, the front frame portion of the tray 70 located in the second inner position (II) is exposed through the opening 2B. The front frame portion is provided with a movable retaining portion (handle) 75. The user places his hand or fingers on the retaining portion 75 and moves the retaining portion 75 towards the front side against pressure from a retaining portion that drives the spring 76.
[0084] As a result, a locking state of a locking portion, described below, which locks tray 70 on the main assembly side of apparatus 2 is eliminated. Through this elimination (state) of locking, the tray 70 can be moved from the inside to the outside of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 along the horizontal rails 73, extending in the front-rear direction, the displacement mechanism and also the along the guide portions 3c, with a horizontal upper surface, provided within the open door 3. Each guide portion 3c is, in a state in which the door 3 is opened in a predetermined manner, located on an extension line of the rail of the side of the main assembly 73 such that a guide surface is at the same height level as a rail tray guide surface 73.
[0085] (5). The user sufficiently pulls the tray 70, located in the second inner position (II) of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 as shown in Figure 6, to the outer position (III) along the rail 73 shown in Figure 7 and around of the guide portion 3c on the side of the door 3. In the state where the tray is located in the second internal position (II), the lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P is spaced from the upper surface of the belt 12 so that it is placed in a non-contact state. Therefore, in a process in which the tray 70 holding the cartridges P is moved from the second inner position (II) to the outer position (III), the drum 4 and belt 12 are prevented from being damaged by rubbing each other.
[0086] When the tray 70 is sufficiently pulled to the outer position (III), a further pulling movement of the tray 70 via a stop member (not shown) is avoided. Furthermore, the tray 70 is kept, in a state where the tray 70 is horizontally pulled to the external position (III), by the rails on the side of the main assembly 73 and by the guide portions 3c on the side of the door 3.
[0087] As shown in Figure 7, in a state where tray 70 is sufficiently pulled to the outer position (Ill), the first to fourth (four) PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges pass through opening 2B to be exposed out of the instrument main assembly 2. As a result, the top surfaces of all P cartridges are exposed.
Tray 70 approximately holds the individual cartridges P such that the cartridges PY, PM, PC and PK can be dismounted from the small frame portions 71Y, 71M, 71C and 71K, respectively, upwards. In addition, the tray 70 holds the individual cartridges P with the cartridges PY, PM, PC and PK arranging in the small frame portions 71Y, 71M, 71C and 71K, respectively, downwards. The user disassembles the used (spent) cartridge, to be exchanged, from tray 70 by raising the cartridge. The user then snaps a new (fresh) cartridge into tray 70 from above.
[0089] As described above, when the tray 70 is pulled to the predetermined external position (III) on the outside of the main assembly of apparatus 2, all cartridges are moved out of the main assembly of apparatus 2. Therefore, the user performs easily a swap operation when the P cartridge is swapped in relation to tray 70.
[0090] (6). After the new cartridge P is replaced by the old cartridge P with respect to tray 70, the user slides tray 70, pulled to the outer position in a reverse order to that described above, with tray 70 moving in the rearward direction of the along the guide portions 3c on the side of the door 3 and further along the rails on the side of the main mount 73. Then, the user pushes the tray 70 from the opening 2B to the inside of the main mount of the apparatus 2. Tray 70 places its rear frame portion adjacent to a spring (support member adjustment spring) 2C, provided on the rear side in the main assembly of apparatus 2, in a position forward of a position where tray 70 reaches the second internal position (II). Tray 70 is further pushed and moved against spring 2C elasticity while being compressed.
[0091] Likewise, when the tray 70 is pushed and moved, the lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P supported by the tray 70 is spaced from the upper surface of the belt 12 so that it is replaced in the non-contact state. Therefore, in a process in which the tray 70 is moved from the outer position (III) to the second inner position (II), the drum 4 and belt 12 are prevented from being damaged by being rubbed together.
[0092] When the tray 70 reaches the second internal position (II), the tray 70 is prevented from being moved backwards by being locked in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus through a locking operation of the locking portion described below, such that as shown in Figure 6, tray 70 is returned to the state in which tray 70 is held in the internal position (II). In this state, tray 70 is stably held in the second internal position (II) even when the user removes their hand from tray 70.
[0093] (7). The user performs an open door closing operation 3. Through the displacement mechanism interrelated to this door locking operation 3d, the tray 70 is moved down from the second internal position (II) within the main assembly of the set 2. Along with the down movement of tray 70, the first to fourth PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges supported by tray 70 are also moved down.
[0094] When the tray 70 is moved down from the second internal position (II) with a predetermined degree of movement, the arcuate portions 24a and 25a in the first to be positioned portion of each cartridge P are received by the first positioning portions 51a and 52a (Figure 8), described below, on the main mounting side of apparatus 2. As a result, each cartridge P is prevented from being moved further downwards. Furthermore, the inverted U character groove member 24b in the first avoidable portion of each cartridge P is engaged with a first prevention portion 53b (Figure 8), described below, on the main assembly side of the apparatus. As a result, each cartridge P is prevented from being rotated. Furthermore, the lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P is placed in a state in which it is brought into contact with the upper surface of the belt 12.
[0095] The tray 70 is further moved downwards by the displacement movement in interaction with an additional closing operation of the door 3, such that the tray 70 reaches the first internal position (I) in a state before the door 3 is sufficiently closed, thus being placed in a state held in the first internal position (I).
[0096] In a state in which the tray 70 is held in the first internal position (I), the character portions V(U) 70a and 70b provided on the side of the tray 70 corresponding to each cartridge P are spaced from the protrusions 24c and 25c of each cartridge P. Furthermore, the preventing surface 70c provided on the tray 70 corresponding to each cartridge P is spaced from the projection 24d of each cartridge P. That is, the support of each cartridge P by the tray 70 is eliminated.
[0097] Each cartridge P, even when support by tray 70 is eliminated, is still received by the first positioning portions 51a and 52a on the main assembly side of the apparatus in its arcuate portions 24a and 25a as the first portion to be positioned. Furthermore, the inverted (downward) U character slot member 24b as the first portion to be avoided is prevented from being rotated by being engaged with the first prevention portion 53b on the main mounting side of the apparatus. As a result, each cartridge P is stably held on the main mounting side of apparatus 2.
[0098] (8). In conjunction with an additional closing operation of the door 3, the pressing mechanism 80 corresponding to each cartridge P performs a pressing operation, such that the drum unit 8 of each cartridge P is pressed from above. As a result, the arcuate portions 24a and 25a of each cartridge P are pressed against the first positioning portions 51a and 52a on the main assembly side of the apparatus, with each cartridge P being sandwiched between the pressing mechanism 80 and the first portions of positioning 51a and 52a. That is, each cartridge P is positionally fixed and held by the main assembly of the apparatus 2 in the cartridge accommodating portion 2A within the main assembly of the apparatus 2.
[0099] Furthermore, in interrelation with the additional operation of port 3, couplings 4a and 42 of each cartridge P positionally fixed to the main assembly of apparatus 2 as described above, couplings 91 and 92 as the output portion of drives on the main mounting side of the device are connected respectively. In addition, the electrical contact on the main assembly side of apparatus 2 is electrically actuated by the electrical contact on the cartridge side P. then, door 3 is sufficiently closed such that apparatus 1 is restored to the state of Figures 2 and 3 to be placed in a state in which the apparatus 1 can perform the imaging operation. The closed state of port 3 is stably maintained. (Positioning the cartridge P in the main assembly of the device)
[00100] Part (a) of Figure 8 shows only parts referring to the positioning of cartridges P mounted in the main assembly of apparatus 2. On a lower plate 55 of the main assembly of apparatus 2, a side plate of the main assembly of the drive side 53, a non-drive side main assembly side plate 54 (Figure 1B), a drive side cartridge retainer 51 and a non-drive side cartridge retainer 52 are mounted.
[00101] Part (b) of Figure 8 schematically illustrates a position of the cartridges P in the main assembly of the apparatus 2, the non-drive side being not illustrated. In the main assembly of apparatus 2, each cartridge P is positioned to the main assembly of apparatus 2 by the drive side and non-drive side casing members 24 and 25.
[00102] As described with reference to Figure 5, on the cartridge side P, the drive side and non-drive side coating members 24 and 25 are provided, at their lower edges, with arcuate portions 24a and 25b, respectively , provided downwards as the first portion to be positioned. The arcuate portions 24a and 25a are coaxial to the central axis of rotation of the drum 4 and are produced larger in diameter than the drum 4. In addition, each cartridge P includes the inverted U character groove member 24b as the first portion a. be avoided, provided on the outer surface of the drive side casing member 24.
[00103] On the other hand, on the main assembly side of apparatus 2, the drive side and non-drive side cartridge retainers 51 and 52 are provided with four character portions V 51a and four character portions V 52a, respectively, which are open from above and used as the first positioning portions corresponding to the arcuate portions 24a and 25a of each cartridge P.
[00104] The V character portions 51a(Y) and 52a(Y) are associated with the arcuate portions 24a and 25a of the PY cartridge. Character V portions 51a(M) and 52a(M) are associated with arcuate portions 24a and 25a of the PM cartridge. Character V portions 51a(C) and 52a(C) are associated with arcuate portions 24a and 25a of the PC cartridge. V character portions 51a(K) and 52a(K) are associated with arcuate portions 24a and 25a of the PK cartridge.
[00105] In addition, the drive side main assembly side plate 53 includes four rotation interrupt portions 53b as a first preventing portion corresponding to the inverted U character slot member 24b of each cartridge P. Each interrupt portion rotation stop 53b consists of a pawl piece that is cut and raised inward from the side plate of the main assembly 53. The rotation stop portions 53b(Y), 53b(M), 53b(C) and 53b(K) ) are associated with the PY, PM, PC and PK cartridges, respectively. A member groove portion 24b on each side of cartridge P is engaged and disengaged from rotation interruption portion 53b.
[00106] The main assembly of apparatus 2 is configured to receive arcuate portions 24a and 25A of each cartridge P by the V character portions 51a and 52a on the main assembly side of apparatus 2. Each cartridge P is supported by the character V portions 51a and 52a with the centers of arcuate portions 24a and 25a as the center of rotation. Furthermore, using member 24b as a means to determine a phase of rotation of each cartridge P, the main assembly of apparatus 2 is configured to determine the phase of rotation of each cartridge P by engaging member 24b of each cartridge P. with an associated rotation stop portion 53b on the main mounting side of apparatus 2.
[00107] In this state, each of the upper surface portions of the drive side and non-drive side coating members 24 and 25 on the drum unit 8 side of each cartridge P is pressed by the pressure mechanism 80 (Figure 3 where the non-drive side is not illustrated). As a result, each cartridge F is sandwiched between the push mechanism 80 and the V character portions 51a and 52a, thus being positionally fixed and held in a predetermined mounting position on the cartridge accommodating portion 2A within the main assembly of the device 2.
[00108] Figure 19 shows a method of positioning a conventional cartridge Q in a main assembly of the apparatus. When the Q cartridge is mounted on the instrument's main assembly. A support member (tray) 165 is pulled from the main assembly of the apparatus and then the cartridge Q is mounted on the support member 165. Figure 19 shows a state where the support member 165 on which the cartridge Q is inserted and positioned in the main assembly of the instrument.
[00109] The main assembly of the apparatus receives an arcuate portion 161a of a drive side casing member 161 and an arcuate portion of a non-drive side casing member of the cartridge Q by a V character portion 163a of a drive-side cartridge retainer 163 and a V-character portion of a non-drive-side cartridge retainer of the main assembly of the apparatus. The liner member, arcuate portion, cartridge retainer and character V portion that are provided on the non-drive side are not shown in Figure 19. On the other hand, the main assembly of the apparatus is configured to receive the cartridge Q by engaging a projection 161b provided to the drive side casing member 161 of the cartridge Q with a slot 165b provided to the support member 165.
[00110] In the conventional mode, the positioning of the cartridge Q was carried out through the drive side cartridge holder 163 and the non-drive side cartridge holder consisting of a fixed member and through the support member 165 as a mobile member. When the position of the support member 165 with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus is bypassed, the position of the cartridge Q supported by the support member 165 with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus is also bypassed. In order to position the cartridge Q with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus with high precision, there was a need to perform the positioning of the support member 165 with respect to the main assembly of the apparatus with high precision.
[00111] Furthermore, there was a need to control a dimension of the support member 165 with high accuracy, and particularly a metal plate was used as a part to form the groove portion of the support member 165. As a result, they increased up the costs.
[00112] In this mode, the positioning of the cartridge P is as described above, performed by the drive side and non-drive side cartridge retainers 51 and 52 and by the drive side main assembly side plate 53 which are fixed parts on the bottom plate 55 of the main assembly of the apparatus 2, and therefore the control of positional accuracy is easy. In addition, a rotation stop function for the cartridge P is imparted to the side plate of the main drive side assembly 53 and therefore, unlike the conventional mode, there is no need to use the metal plate as the support member 65, in such a way that a cost reduction can be realized. (Offset mechanism for tray 70)
[00113] The displacement mechanism for tray 70 will be described. Part (a) of Figure 9 is a perspective view of a part of the main assembly of apparatus 2 as viewed from a right front side of the assembly the main assembly of the apparatus 2, and (b) of Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the main assembly of the apparatus 2. The main assembly of the apparatus 2 is provided with an opening 2B to allow the removal and placement of the tray 70 and cartridge P. The door 3 is pivotally moved around the pivoting central protrusion 3a as the (rotating) center and provided to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 so that it is movable to an open position where the opening 2B is exposed and a closed position where opening 2B is closed (covered). The door 3 is provided with a front door engaging lug 3b in a position different from the position of the lug 3a. The protrusion 3b engages a front door engaging groove 72a of the link 72 provided on the main assembly of the apparatus 2.
[00114] The link 72 is movably supported only in the front-rear direction (arrow direction A: first direction) of the main assembly of the apparatus 2, for example, by the guides 53c that are cut and raised from the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53. The front door engaging groove 72a of the link 72 is an elongated hole in the vertical direction (from top to bottom) (direction of arrow B: second direction) of the main assembly of apparatus 2. , the link 72 is provided with a track engaging groove 72b which consists of an elongated hole in the vertical direction (direction of arrow B) of the main assembly of the apparatus 2. In the track engaging groove 72b, a protrusion 73a engages of the rail 73.
[00115] In this document, the rail 73 is a guide that serves to allow the removal and placement of the tray 70 in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 in the front-rear direction (direction of arrow A). Particularly, in order to facilitate the operation of removing and placing the tray 70, the rail 73 is provided with a rotating roller 73b. Between link 72 and rail 73, the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53 is arranged.
[00116] In addition, the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53 is provided with a crank groove 53d. The protrusion 73a of the rail 73 is engaged in the crank groove 53d of the side plate of the drive side main mount 53. Likewise, on the non-drive side of the main mount of apparatus 2, a displacement mechanism including a link , a guide, or the like, which are similar to those described above, is symmetrically provided with the displacement mechanism described above.
[00117] In a state in which the door 3 is closed, the front door engaging lug 3b is located rearward with respect to the central pivot lug 3a. As a result, the drive side and non-drive side links 72 each having the front door engagement groove 72a engaged with the protrusion 3a are pushed back and are located in a retracted position. For this reason, protrusion 73a of track 73 engaged with track engaging groove 72b of link 72 is as shown in (a) of Figure 10A, moved to a rear end portion 53d-JD consisting of a lower portion of the groove. of crank 53d. As a result, the drive side and non-drive side rails 73 are located and maintained in the lower portion as shown in (b) of Figure 10A.
[00118] The tray 70 mounted on the rail 73 is seen that the rail 73 is located and maintained in the lower portion, located in the lower portion in relation to the vertical direction in the cartridge accommodating portion 2A within the main assembly of the apparatus 2.A position of the lower portion of tray 70 is the first internal position (I).
[00119] In a state where the tray 70 is located in the first internal position (I), each cartridge P accommodated in the associated small frame portion 71 is received, in its arcuate portions 24a and 25a, by the character portions V 51a and 52a on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 ((b) of Figure 10B). Furthermore, the inverted U-character slot member 24b is engaged with the rotation interruption portion 53b on the main mounting side of the apparatus 2, thus having its rotation interrupted ((b) of Figure 10A).
The V character portions 70a and 70b of the tray 70 are spaced apart from the protrusions 24c and 25c on the side of the cartridge P ((b) of Figure 10A and (a) of Figure 10B). Furthermore, the prevention surface 70c of the tray 70 is spaced from the projection 24d on the side of the cartridge P ((b) of Figure 10B). That is, tray 70 is not associated with each cartridge P in a state where tray 70 is located in the first internal position (I), such that tray 70 does not support each cartridge P.
[00121] Furthermore, in a state where the tray 70 is located in the first internal position (I), each cartridge is pressed, on the side of the drum unit 8, from above by the pressure mechanism 80. As a result, each cartridge P is sandwiched between the pressing mechanism 80 and the V character portions 51a and 52a and is positionally fixed and held in a predetermined mounting position in the cartridge accommodating portion 2A on the main mounting side of the apparatus 2.
[00122] In addition, to couplings 4a and 42 of each cartridge P mounted in the mounting position, couplings 91 and 92 as a drive output portion on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 are connected, respectively. In addition, an electrical contact on the cartridge P side and an electrical contact on the main mounting side of instrument 2 are electrically actuated. Furthermore, a lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P is placed in contact with the belt 12 such that the primary transfer portion is formed. In the above state, the apparatus 1 is capable of performing an imaging operation.
[00123] By opening the door 3 from the closed state, as described above, in an early stage of the opening operation of the door 3, the couplings on the main assembly side of the apparatus 91 and 92 perform a retraction operation from of couplings 4a and 42 of each cartridge P, thus releasing the coupling connection. The electrical contact on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 is retracted from the electrical contact on the cartridge side P to eliminate electrical actuation. The pressure mechanism 80 performs a pressure release operation to eliminate the positioning lock of each cartridge P.
[00124] Then, with a subsequent opening operation of the door 3, the front door engaging lug 3b is moved from the backward position relative to the pivoting central lug 3a forward and upward with the lug 3a as the center. As a result, the drive side and non-drive side links 72 each having the front door engaging groove 72a engaged with the protrusion 3a are pushed forward and moved to a forward position. For this reason, the protrusion 73a of the rail 73 engaged with the rail engaging groove 72b of the link 72 is as shown in (a) of Figure 11A, moved from the rear end portion 53d-D which is the lower portion of the groove. crank 53d to a front end portion 53d-D which is an upper portion.
[00125] As a result, the drive side and non-drive side rails 73 are moved forward and up and, in a state in which the door 3 is sufficiently open to a predetermined opening angle, the rails 73 are located and maintained in the upper position, as shown in (b) of Figure 11A, superior to the lower portion shown in (b) of Figure 10A to a predetermined degree.
[00126] The tray 70 mounted on the rail 73 is as described above, moved upwards with the movement of the rail 73 from the lower portion to the upper portion, and is located and maintained in the upper portion in relation to the vertical direction within the main apparatus assembly 2. The position of the upper portion of the tray 70 is the second internal position (II).
[00127] In a state in which tray 70 is located in the first internal position (I) and the second internal position (II), tray 70 is as described below, locked to the main mounting side of the apparatus by a portion of locking, thus preventing it from being moved forward. Although the locking portion prevents forward movement of tray 70, the locking portion is configured to allow movement of tray 70 in the top-down direction. For this reason, although the rail 73 is moved forward and upward with the opening operation of the door 3, as described above, it prevents the tray 70 from being moved forward by the locking portion and being vertically raised from the first internal position (I) with the elevation of the rail, being therefore moved and held in the second internal position (II).
[00128] During the vertical elevation of tray 70 from the first internal position (I) to the second internal position (II), with the protrusions 24c and 25c of each cartridge P, the corresponding (associated) V character portions 70a and 70b of tray 70 are engaged ((a) of Figure 11B). Furthermore, with the projection 24 of each cartridge P, the corresponding preventing surface 70c of the tray 70 is engaged ((b) of Figure 110). As a result, each cartridge P is in a state in which the cartridge P is stably supported by the tray 70 in the corresponding small frame portion 71.
[00129] Furthermore, by raising each cartridge P together with tray 70 with an additional elevation of tray 70, the arcuate portions 24c and 25c of each cartridge P are raised and spaced from the corresponding character portions V 51a and 52a on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 ((b) of Figure 11A and (c) of Figure 11B). In addition, the inverted U character slot member 24b of each cartridge is raised and spaced from the rotation stop portion 53b on the main mounting side of apparatus 2 ((b) of Figure 11A). Furthermore, the lower surface of the drum 4 of each cartridge P is carried and spaced from the belt 12 ((b) of Figure 11A).
[00130] The tray 70 is, in a state where the door 3 is sufficiently open to a predetermined opening angle, placed in a state in which the tray 70 is moderate to the second internal position (II) greater than the first internal position ( I) up to the predetermined degree, and is stably maintained.
[00131] With reference to Figures 12 and 13, the locking portion of tray 70 is described. Part (a) of Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front frame portion of tray 70 as viewed from above, and part (b) of Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front frame portion of tray 70 as viewed from below. On the front frame portion of the tray 70, a support member locking portion (tray locking portion) 74, a retaining portion (handle) 75 and a retaining portion biasing spring 76 are provided. The locking portion 74 and the retaining portion 75 are configured to be interrelated to each other by engagement between a groove 74a of the locking portion 74 and a protrusion 75a of the retaining portion 75. In addition, the locking portion 74 it is provided with a tapered surface 74b at its end portion. Furthermore, the retaining portion 75 is always biased towards the rear side of the main assembly (in a direction of arrow N) by the biasing spring of the retaining portion 76.
[00132] Parts (a) to (d) of Figure 13 are schematic views of tray 70 as seen from above the main assembly of apparatus 2. Part (a) of Figure 13 shows a state (external position) in the which tray 70 is pulled from the main assembly of apparatus 2, and the locking portion 74 is projected from a drive side surface 70d of the front frame portion of tray 70. When tray 70 is inserted into the main assembly of apparatus 2, as shown in (b) of Figure 13, the tray 70 is placed, for example, in contact with a projection 53e provided on the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53, however, using the surface tapered 74b of the locking portion 74, the locking portion 74 is retracted in a direction of arrow J against the spring 76.
[00133] Part (c) of Figure 13 shows a state in which the tray 70 is additionally inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus 2. The interference of the tray 70 in the projection 53e of the side plate of the main assembly of the drive side 53 is eliminated , such that the locking portion 74 is projected again from the side surface of the tray 70d. In the present document, the main assembly of apparatus 2 is provided with a tray adjustment spring 2C (Figures 3, 6 and 7) to apply a driving force to tray 70 in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow N.
[00134] Therefore, the tray 70 is inserted at the position of (c) of Figure 13 by the user, however, it is finally set (limited) to a position where the locking portion 74 is in contact with the projection 53e of the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53. Part (d) of Figure 13 shows a state in which the cartridge P is located in the second internal position (II), relative to the main assembly of apparatus 2, the latent image being formed on the 4th drum is not revealed. The locking portion 74 and the projection 53e of the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53 are brought into contact on a vertical surface, such that the tray 70 is allowed to move in the top-down direction in a state in which prevents tray 70 from being moved forward.
[00135] The retaining portion 75 of the tray 70 moved to the second internal position (II) is moved in the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow N against the driving force of the spring 76 by the user, such that the locking portion 74 is moved in the direction of arrow J ((b) in Figure 13) and its contact with projection 53e is eliminated. As a result, the user pulls tray 70 in a forward direction of the instrument main mount (opposite to the direction of arrow N) as described above to move tray 70 to the outer position (III) outside of the instrument main mount 2, from so that the user can switch between new and old cartridges.
[00136] Figure 14 shows a state of support of the cartridge P mounted on the tray 70 in the second internal position (II) or in the external position (III). Figure 14 is, for convenience of explanation, shown as a partial sectional view of a portion of tray 70.
[00137] As previously described, the tray 70 is provided with V character portions 70a and 70b, which are open from above, like the second positioning portions provided on the drive side and on the non-drive side, respectively, so corresponding to each cartridge P. Furthermore, corresponding to each cartridge P, as the second preventing portion, preventing surface 70o is provided which is open from above. When the cartridge P is inserted into the corresponding accommodation portion 71 of the tray 70 from above, the projections 24c and 25c on the side of the cartridge P are engaged with the character V portions 70a and 70b of the tray 70. In addition, the projection 24d on the side of cartridge P is placed in contact with the prevention surface 70c of tray 70.
[00138] The only force acting on cartridge P in tray 70 is the force of gravity. Furthermore, the gravity G of the cartridge F is located, relative to the front-rear direction (arrow A: first direction) of the main assembly of apparatus 2, between the protrusions 24c and 25c as the center of rotation and the projection 24d as the rotation interrupt portion. Therefore, the drive side and non-drive side protrusions 24c and 25c on the cartridge side P are engaged to the drive side and non-drive side V character portions 70a and 70b, respectively, in such a way that the cartridge P is positioned on tray 70 with high precision.
[00139] Part (a) of Figure 15 shows a state in which door 3 is opened and tray 70 is located in the second internal position (II) within the main assembly of apparatus 2. Part (b) of Figure 15 shows, for convenience of explanation, the cartridge P, the drive side cartridge retainer 51 and a part of the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53. Part (a) of Figure 16 shows a state in which the door 3 is partially moved towards the closed position, and (b) of Figure 16 shows the cartridge P, the drive side cartridge retainer 51 and a part of the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53 for reasons of convenience of explanation.
[00140] In Figure 16, the door 3 is not sufficiently moved towards the closed position. By moving the door 3 from the open position to the closed position, the link 72 engaged with the front door engaging boss 3b is moved to the rear side of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 (in the direction of arrow N). Through this movement, the rail 73 engaged with the rail engaging groove 721 is also moved to the rear side of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 (in the direction of arrow N).
[00141] In the present document, the protrusion 73a provided on the rail 73 is also engaged with the crank groove 53d of the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53 and therefore is also moved down along the crank groove 53d in combination with the movement of link 72 to the rear side of the main apparatus assembly 2 (in the direction of arrow N). At this time, as described above, the positionally prevents the tray 70 mounted on the rail 73 from being moved in the front-rear direction (arrow A direction) of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 by the coupling portion and, as a result, the tray 70 is just moved down.
[00142] Through this lowering of the tray 70, the cartridge P is also moved downwards in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus 2. At this time, the arcuate portions 24a and 25a on the side of the cartridge P are configured to come into contact with the portions character V 51a and 52a on the main mounting side of the instrument 2. In Figures 15 and 16, only the drive side parts are shown. Furthermore, the member 24b on the cartridge side P is configured so that it is engaged with the rotation stop portion 53b which is cut and lifted from the side plate of the drive side main assembly 53.
[00143] At an end portion of the member 24b, tapered portions 24e are provided as shown in Figure 17 for the purpose of bringing the rotation stop portion 53b to the groove portion of the member 24b. A degree of orientation is required in consideration of a positional variation of the cartridge over tray 70 and a positional variation of tray 70 relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.
[00144] However, as shown in Figures 14 to 16, the first positioning portions 51a and 52a and the first prevention portion 53b are, in a state in which the tray 70 is located in the second internal position (II), located between the second positioning portions 70a and 70b and the second preventing portion 70c with respect to the first direction A.
[00145] That is, with respect to the first direction A, the arcuate portions 24a and 25a and the member 24b on the side of the cartridge P are located between the protrusions 24c and 25c and the projection 24d on the side of the cartridge P, such that cartridge P is supported by tray 70 with high positional accuracy as far as possible. Therefore, when the tray 70 is moved downwards, the cartridge P can be directly positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus 2. Particularly, the member 24b and the rotation interruption portion 53b can be directly engaged with each other.
[00146] Part (a) of Figure 17 shows the case where there is a degree of positional deviation m1 between the member 24b and the rotation interruption portion 53b. In this case, in order to engage the member 24b and the rotation interruption portion 53b, the member 24b is required to have a degree of orientation m1. In addition, cartridge P is required to have a degree of rise and fall of m2.
[00147] On the other hand, (b) of Figure 17 shows the case where there is a degree of positional deviation n1 between the member 24b on the cartridge side P and the rotation interruption portion 53b. In the present document, the degree of positional deviation n1 is greater than the degree of positional deviation m1. In this case, in order to engage the member 24b and the rotation interruption portion 53b, the member 24b is required to have a degree of orientation n1. Furthermore, it is required that the degree of rise and lowering n2 of the cartridge P is greater than the degree of raising and lowering m2. That is, a height of the main assembly of the device 2 is increased.
[00148] According to the constitution of positioning the cartridge P on the tray 70 in this modality, the tray 70 is provided with V character portions 70a and 70b, and therefore the cartridge is positioned on the tray 70 with high precision. For this reason, at the end portions of the member 24b of the cartridge P, only tapered portions with a degree of orientation may be required. As a result, the degree of lifting and lowering of the cartridge P in the main assembly of the apparatus 2 can become small, such that a reduction in the dimensions of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 can be realized.
[00149] Part (a) of Figure 18 shows a state in which the door 3 is located in the closed position. When door 3 is closed from the state of Figure 16, similarly as described above, rail 73 and tray 70 are moved downwards. However, in the state of Figure 16, the cartridge P has already been received, in its lower portion, by the drive side and non-drive side cartridge holders 51 and 52 and therefore is not moved further down.
[00150] All the character portions V 70a and 70b and the preventing surface 70c of the tray 70 to be engaged with the protrusions 24c and 25c and the projection 24d of the cartridge P, respectively, are open from above. For this reason, the tray can freely move downwards. As a result, tray 70 is spaced from cartridge F.
[00151] The constitutions of the imaging apparatus 1 and the cartridge P in the modality described above are summarized as follows. (1). The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus to which a plurality of cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) are detachably mounted to form the image on the recording material S. The apparatus 1 includes the support member 70 serving to support the plurality of cartridges P. The support member 70 pulls the cartridges out of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 of the imaging apparatus 1 and is able to adopt the external position (III) where each cartridge P is detachably mounted.
[00152] Furthermore, the support member 70 is able to adopt the first internal position (I) where the cartridges P are positioned relative to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 within the main assembly of the apparatus 2. bracket 70 is able to adopt the second inner position (II) located inside the main assembly of the apparatus 2 between the outer position (III) and the first inner position (1).
In the main assembly of the apparatus 2, the first positioning portions 51a and 52a and the first prevention portion 53b are provided. The first positioning portions 51a and 52a position the cartridge P when the support member 70 is located in the first internal position (I). The first prevention portion 53b prevents the cartridge F from being rotated around the first positioning portions.
[00154] Furthermore, in the main assembly of the apparatus 2, the second positioning portions 70a and 70b and the second prevention portion 70b are provided. The second positioning portions 70a and 70b position the cartridge P when the support member 70 is located between the outer position (III) and the second inner position (II). The second preventing portion 70c prevents the cartridge P from being rotated around the second positioning portions. In order to position the support member 70 between the outer position (III) and the second inner position (11), the support member 70 can also be placed in a state in which the support member 70 is located in the outer position. (III) and in a state in which the support member 70 is located in the second internal position (II).
[00155] Furthermore, the second positioning portions 70a and 74b and the second prevention portion 70c are spaced apart from the cartridge P when the support member 70 is located in the first internal position (1).
[00156] (2). The direction A in which the support member 70 is moved between the outer position (III) and the second inner position (II) is the first direction. Direction B perpendicular to the first direction A is the second direction. The support member 70 passes, when the support member 70 is moved between the outer position (III) and the second inner position (II), between the first positioning portions 51a and 52a and the first prevention portion 53b with respect to the second direction B.
[00157] (3). The first positioning portions 51a and 52a and the first preventing portion 53b are, in a state in which the support member 70 is located in the second internal position (II), located between the second positioning portions 70a and 70b and the second prevention portion 70c in relation to the first direction A.
[00158] (4). The second positioning portions 70a and 70b and the second preventing portion 70c are located between the first positioning portions 51a and 52a and the first preventing portion 53b with respect to the second direction B.
[00159] (5). Cartridge P mounted detachably to imaging apparatus 1 as described above includes first positioning portions 24a and 25a engageable with first positioning portions 51a and 51b and including avoidable first portion 24b engaging first position portions 24b. prevention 53b. In addition, the cartridge P includes second to be positioned portions 24c and 25c engageable to second positioning portions 70a and 70b and includes second to be prevented portion 24c engageable to second preventable portion 70c.
[00160] (6). Cartridge P is a developing cartridge that serves to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive electrophotographic member 4.
[00161] (7). Cartridge P includes the photosensitive electrophotographic member 4 and the process medium acting on the photosensitive electrophotographic member 4.
[00162] (8). The first portions to be positioned 24a and 25a are coaxially provided with a photosensitive drum as the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
[00163] (9). The gravity G of the cartridge P is provided between the second portions to be positioned 24a and 25a and the second portion to be avoided 24c with respect to the first direction A.
[00164] As described above, the cartridge P is provided with arcuate portions (first portions to be positioned) 24a and 25a and an inverted U character groove member (first prevention portion) 24b which are used to perform a positioning on relation to tray 70 by itself in the main assembly of apparatus 2. In addition, the protrusions (second portions to be positioned) 24c and 25c and the projection (second portion to be avoided) 24d which are used to perform the positioning of the cartridge P with respect to tray 70 are provided.
[00165] In addition, the tray (support member) 70 is provided with character V portions (second positioning portions) 70a and 70b for receiving the positioning projections 24c and 25c of the cartridge P with respect to the tray 70. , the tray 70 is provided with a preventing surface (second preventing portion) 70c for receiving the projection 24d as the rotation interruption portion of the cartridge P with respect to the tray 70.
[00166] As a result, the cartridge P is positioned on the tray 70 with high precision, such that the cartridge P can be disassembled and mounted on the main assembly of the apparatus 2. In addition, a degree of orientation of the end portions of the member 24b as the rotation interruption portion of the cartridge P can become small and therefore the degree of elevation and lowering of the cartridge P in the main assembly of the apparatus 2 can become small. As a result, a reduction in the dimensions of the main assembly of the apparatus 2 can be realized. (Other embodiments) (1) In the embodiment described above, the constitution in which the drive side casing member 24 and the side plate of the main assembly of the drive side 53 are engaged since the rotation phase determining means for the cartridge P has been employed. Cartridge P is configured to receive a developer device drive output from the main assembly of the apparatus by providing developer device drive coupling 42 at the end portion of cartridge drive side P. transmission of motive force is positioned with high precision. For this reason, it is preferable that the rotation phase determination for the cartridge P is carried out on the drive side. However, the positioning (position determination) of the cartridge P is not limited to the positioning described above, however, as the means of determining the phase of rotation, a constitution can also be employed in which the non-side coating member -drive 25 and the side plate of the non-drive side main assembly 54 are engaged. (two) . Furthermore, in the modality described above, as well as the cartridge P mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus 2, the integral type process cartridge prepared by fully assembling the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the loading means, the cleaning means has been described. , the developing device, and the like, to the cartridge. Cartridge P is not limited to this, but can also be the discrete-type process cartridge or the developing cartridge that serves to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive electrophotographic member (image bearing member). The assembly of these cartridges to the main assembly of the apparatus 2 can also be carried out using a similar constitution. (3) Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, by way of example, the color electrophotographic imaging apparatus to which four cartridges are detachably mounted is described. However, the number of cartridges to be mounted to the apparatus is not limited to four, but can be adjusted accordingly. The present invention is applicable to imaging apparatus in which a plurality, two or more cartridges are detachably mounted. (4) .The image forming apparatus is not limited to the printer according to the modality described above. For example, the image forming apparatus can also be other image forming apparatus, such as the copying machine, the facsimile machine and the copying machine having the functions of those machines. (5) .The imaging process of the imaging apparatus is not limited to the electrophotographic process, but can also be the electrostatic recording process that uses the dielectric electrostatic recording member as the image bearing member and the process recording device that uses the magnetic recording member as the image bearing member.
[00167] As described above, according to the present invention, the positioning of the cartridge in relation to the main assembly of the apparatus can be performed with high accuracy and low costs.
[00168] Although the invention has been described with reference to the structures described herein, it is not confined to the details presented and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may arise within the scope of the improvements or the scope of the following claims .

权利要求:
Claims (11)
[0001]
1. An imaging apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising: an imaging unit configured to form an image on a recording material, said imaging unit including a main assembly; a support member, to be received in said main assembly, for supporting a plurality of cartridges, said support member being movable to an external position (III) in which said support member is capable of being pulled out of said main assembly of said imaging unit and where cartridges are detachably mounted to said support member, a first internal position (I) where cartridges are positioned within the main assembly, and a second internal position (II ) where the cartridges are positioned within the main assembly, said support member is movable to the external position and the first internal position from the second position; a first positioning portion (51a, 52a), provided on said main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of cartridges when said support member is located in the first internal position, and a first prevention portion (53b) for preventing rotation. the associated cartridge around said first positioning portion; and a second positioning portion (70a, 10b) provided on said support member for positioning the associated cartridge when said support member is located between the outer position and the second inner position, and a second prevention portion (70c ), provided on said support member to prevent rotation of the associated cartridge around said second positioning portion, the imaging apparatus characterized in that said first prevention portion (53b) is provided in the main assembly, and said second positioning portion is spaced from said associated cartridge when said support member is located in the first internal position.
[0002]
2. Imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said support member passes, when said support member moves between the outer position and the second inner position, between said first portion of positioning and said first prevention portion with respect to a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which said support member moves between the outer position and the second inner position.
[0003]
3. Imaging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said support member further comprises a second prevention portion to prevent rotation of the associated cartridge around said second positioning portion, said second preventing portion being in a state in which said second preventing portion is spaced from said associated cartridge when said support member is located in the first internal position.
[0004]
4. The imaging apparatus of claim 3, characterized in that said first positioning portion and said first preventing portion are, in a state in which said support member is located in the second position. located between said second positioning portion and said second preventing portion with respect to the first direction in which said support member moves between the outer position and the second inner position.
[0005]
5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotating belt which contacts, when said support member is located in the first internal position, a photosensitive drum supported by said support member , and wherein the photosensitive drum supported by said support member is spaced from said belt when said support member is located in the second internal position.
[0006]
A system comprising a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and an image forming apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, said cartridge comprising : a first portion being positioned to engage with said first positioning portion; a first portion to be avoided to engage with said first prevention portion; and a second portion being positioned to engage with said second positioning portion.
[0007]
7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that said cartridge is a developing cartridge to reveal an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive electrophotographic member.
[0008]
8. System according to claim 6, characterized in that said cartridge is a process cartridge that includes a photosensitive electrophotographic member and a process means that acts on the photosensitive electrophotographic member.
[0009]
9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that said first portion to be positioned is coaxially provided with a photosensitive drum consisting of a photosensitive electrophotographic member.
[0010]
10. System according to claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises a second portion to be avoided, engageable with said second prevention portion provided on said support member, to prevent rotation of said cartridge around said second positioning portion.
[0011]
11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that a center of gravity of said cartridge is provided between said second portion to be positioned and said second portion to be avoided in relation to a first direction in which the said support member moves between the outer position and the second inner position.

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JP6409603B2|2015-02-06|2018-10-24|ブラザー工業株式会社|Image forming apparatus|

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JP6390457B2|2015-02-06|2018-09-19|ブラザー工業株式会社|Image forming apparatus|

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JP6950147B2|2016-03-15|2021-10-13|ブラザー工業株式会社|Process cartridge|

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KR102323007B1|2018-01-22|2021-11-10|휴렛-팩커드 디벨롭먼트 컴퍼니, 엘.피.|Guide elements for mounting consumable cartridges on cartridge tray|

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JP2020140046A|2019-02-27|2020-09-03|キヤノン株式会社|Misinstallation prevention system|

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US11221582B2|2020-02-14|2022-01-11|Lexmark International, Inc.|Latching assembly for securing toner cartridges in an image forming device|

法律状态:
2015-06-16| B03A| Publication of a patent application or of a certificate of addition of invention [chapter 3.1 patent gazette]|

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2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2019-10-29| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

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2020-11-17| B06A| Patent application procedure suspended [chapter 6.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-04-13| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-06-22| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 31/10/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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JP2011-240226|2011-11-01|

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JP2011240226A|JP5875328B2|2011-11-01|2011-11-01|Image forming apparatus and cartridge|

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