Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorsMitsuhiro KOUMOTO, Tadashi HIRATA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When the user inserts an insertion end portion of an image forming unit covered with a protective cover into an attachment opening on an apparatus main unit along with a buffer sheet and a blackout sheet, the insertion end portion of an exterior cover sheet touches an exterior wall near the attachment opening for the image forming unit on the apparatus main unit. Thereby, the insertion operation of the image forming unit stops and one end of the image forming unit is held supported on the wall inside the opening.
Claims20
A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:
- a photoconductor configured to receive an electronic latent image on a surface of the photoconductor;
- a developer configured to develop the electronic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor into a toner image;
- a first sheet-type protective cover, configured to be provided about the photoconductor and the developer, before the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the first protective cover being configured to protect the surface of the photoconductor and to shield the surface of the photoconductor from light;
- and
- a second sheet-type protective cover, configured to be provided about the photoconductor and the developer, before the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the second protective cover being configured to be positioned outwardly of the first protective cover and to have a predetermined portion, the predetermined portion being configured to contact a portion of the image forming apparatus during attachment of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, the predetermined portion being configured to stop attachment of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, stopping the attachment serving as an indication to an installer of the process cartridge, that the second cover, together with the first cover can be removed from the process cartridge.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a recording medium holder configured to hold a recording medium;
- a feeder configured to feed the recording medium from the recording medium holder;
- an opening in the housing configured to receive therethrough a process cartridge to be attached to the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including a photoconductor configured to receive an electronic latent image on a surface thereof and a developer configured to develop the electronic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor into a toner image, the developed toner image being transferred to the recording medium;
- and
- a fuser configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium fed by the feeder,
- the process cartridge further being configured to have provided thereabout, before the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, a first sheet-type protective cover and a second sheet-type protective cover,
- the first sheet-type protective cover being configured to protect the surface of the photoconductor and to shield the surface of the photoconductor from light,
- the second sheet-type protective cover configured to cover the first protective cover, the second protective cover having a predetermined portion, the predetermined portion being configured to contact a portion of the image forming apparatus adjacent to the opening of the housing of the image forming apparatus during attaching of the process cartridge, and to stop attachment of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, stopping the attachment serving as an indication, to a user of the process cartridge, that the second cover together with the first cover can be removed from the process cartridge.
A method for attaching a process cartridge to an image forming apparatus having a housing with an opening, the process cartridge including a photoconductor configured to receive an electronic latent image and a developer configured to develop the electronic latent image on the photoconductor, the process cartridge being received within a protective cover, an outermost component of the protective cover having a predetermined portion at an end of the protective cover, the attaching method comprising:
- locating the process cartridge, received within the protective cover, adjacent to the opening of the image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is to be attached;
- bringing the predetermined portion of the protective cover into contact with a portion of the image forming apparatus positioned within the opening, contact between the predetermined portion and a portion of the image forming apparatus stopping insertion of the process cartridge, received within the protective cover into the image forming apparatus;
- removing the protective cover from the process cartridge;
- and
- inserting the process cartridge into the opening of the image forming apparatus.
A cover for a process cartridge, the process cartridge including a photoconductor and a developer, the cover comprising:
- a first protective cover configured to be received about the photoconductor and developer before the process cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus, the first protective cover being configured to protect the surface of the photoconductor and to shield the surface of the photoconductor from light;
- and
- a second protective cover configured to be received about the photoconductor and developer before the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, the second protective cover being configured to be positioned outwardly of the first cover, a predetermined portion provided at an end of the second protective cover, the predetermined portion including insertion direction indicia and being configured for stopping attachment of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, stopping the attachment serving as an indication, to a user of the process cartridge, that the second protective cover together with the first protective cover can be removed from the process cartridge and that the attachment can be completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.