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US 5,543,898 AGranted
Process cartridge, method for assembling process cartridge and image forming apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKazuo Shishido, Shinichi Sasaki, Isao Ikemoto, Masahiko Yashiro, Toshiyuki Karakama, Atsushi Numagami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is characterized by that a first frame for containing developer used with a developing operation, a second frame for supporting a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, and a third frame for supporting the image bearing member are made of the same material.
Claims83
A process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame made of a resin for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame made of a resin for supporting a developing roller that supplies the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
- and
- a third frame made of a resin for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
- wherein said first, second and third frames are formed of the same resin material, and said third frame comprises internal ribs for reinforcing said third frame.
2 more elements
A process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame for supporting a developing roller that supplies the developer to an image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member;
- and
- a third frame for supporting the image bearing member,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are formed of the same material, and
- wherein the developer is made of material having a charging series similar to that of said first, second, and third frames.
3 more elements
A process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame for supporting a developing roller that supplies the developer to an image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member;
- and
- a third frame for supporting the image bearing member,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are formed of the same material, and
- wherein said first frame and said second frame are integrally welded to each other by ultrasonic welding.
3 more elements
A process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame for supporting a developing roller supplying the developer to an image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member;
- and
- a third frame for supporting the image bearing member,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are formed of the same material, and
- wherein said first frame and said second frame are integrally formed as an integral member to be separated from said third frame, and said integral member and said third frame are integrally mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:
- mounting means capable of mounting the process cartridge in which a first frame made of a resin for containing developer to be used for a developing operation, a second frame made of a resin is for supporting a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a third frame made of a resin is for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the first, second, and third frames being formed from the same resin material and the third frame comprising internal ribs for reinforcing the third frame;
- and
- conveying means for conveying the recording medium.
A process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- and
- a second frame for supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member,
- wherein said first and second frames are made of a material having a charging series similar to a charging series of the developer and said first and second frames are made of polystyrene resin, and the developer utilizes a bonding agent made of styrene-acrylic resin.
1 more element
A process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame for supporting a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- a third frame for supporting the image bearing member, wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of material having a charging series similar to a charging series of the developer.
1 more element
A process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame for supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- a third frame for supporting charger means for charging the image bearing member, cleaning means for removing residual developer from the image bearing member, and a waste developer reservoir chamber for containing developer removed by the cleaning means,
- wherein said first frame and said second frame and the waste developer reservoir chamber are made of material having a charging series similar to a charging series of the developer.
2 more elements
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge can be mounted for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:
- mounting means capable of mounting a process cartridge including a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation, and a second frame for supporting a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, wherein said first and second frames are made of a material having a charging series similar to a charging series of the developer;
- and
- convey means for conveying the recording medium.
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame made of resin for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same resin material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same resin material as the first frame and comprising internal ribs for reinforcing the third frame, to thereby couple the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge.
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same material as the first frame to thereby couple the image bearing member to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge,
- wherein the first and second frames are joined together by ultrasonic welding.
1 more element
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same material as the first frame to thereby couple the image bearing member to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge,
- wherein the third frame is joined to the joined first and second frames by engaging an engagement portion of the third frame by a shaft of the joined first and second frames.
1 more element
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same material as the first frame to thereby couple the image bearing member to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge,
- wherein the first, second, and third frames are formed by injection molding.
1 more element
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same material as the first frame to thereby couple the image bearing member to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge;
- wherein the developer contained in the first frame is made of a material having a charging series similar to a charging series of the material of the first, second, and third frames.
1 more element
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame that supports a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second and third frames are made of the same resin material, and
- wherein said first frame and said second frame are integrally joined by ultrasonic welding.
3 more elements
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame made of resin and provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame made of resin and supporting a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame made of resin and supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade abutted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for removing residual toner therefrom, and a charge roller abutted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of the same resin material, and said third frame includes internal ribs for reinforcing said third frame.
2 more elements
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame that supports a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of the same material, and
- wherein a material of each of said first, second, and third frames and that of the developer are similar in charging series.
3 more elements
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame that supports a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of the same material, and
- wherein said third frame comprises charge means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, cleaning means for removing a residual developer on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a waste developer containing portion for containing developer removed by said cleaning means.
3 more elements
A method for assembling a process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- joining a first frame for containing developer to be used for a developing operation to a second frame made of the same material as the first frame, the second frame supporting developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member;
- and
- thereafter, joining a third frame, made of the same material as the first frame to thereby couple the image bearing member to the first and second frames joined together, thereby assembling a process cartridge,
- wherein the material of the developer and the material of the first, second, and third frames are both of a styrene group that is the same.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:
- mount means for mounting the process cartridge including a first frame made of resin and provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation, a second frame made of resin and supporting a developing roller, and a third frame made of resin and supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum capable of being supplied with developer by the developing roller to develop a latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade abutted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for removing residual toner therefrom, and a charge roller abutted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the first frame and the second frame being integrally joined to each other, the third frame being rotatably joined to the integrally joined first and second frames, the first, second, and third frames being made of the same resin material, and the third frame comprising internal ribs for reinforcing the third frame;
- and
- conveying means for conveying the recording medium.
A process cartridge, in which a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a charging roller, a developing roller, and a cleaning blade that act on the photosensitive drum, are disposed, removably insertable into an image forming apparatus in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the image forming apparatus having a guiding arrangement for guiding the process cartridge to an operative position in the image forming apparatus and supporting said process cartridge in the operative position such that a driven gear disposed coaxially with the photosensitive drum is engaged with a driving gear of the image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a casing, having a first opening for passing light to the photosensitive drum to form a latent image thereon, and a second opening for transferring developed images from the photosensitive drum to a transfer material, said casing comprising a front casing frame that supports the photosensitive drum and includes a reservoir for containing used toner removed from the photosensitive drum and having internal ribs for reinforcing said front casing frame, a middle casing frame that supports the developing roller, and a rear casing frame that includes a developer reservoir,
- wherein the photosensitive drum is mounted in said casing at a front portion thereof relative to the direction of insertion of said process cartridge, outwardly protruding guides are disposed on said casing at opposite sides of said front portion for cooperation with the guiding arrangement for effecting the guiding and supporting of said process cartridge, and a rear portion of said casing relative to the direction of insertion of said process cartridge is constructed such that said rear portion can be gripped by an operator for inserting said process cartridge into and removing said process cartridge from the image forming apparatus, and
- wherein said front casing frame, said middle casing frame, and said rear casing frame are made of the same resin material.
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame that supports a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of the same material, and
- wherein the developer is a magnetic developer using a styrene-acrylic resin as a binding resin.
3 more elements
A process cartridge removably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
- a first frame provided with a containing portion for containing a developer to be used for a developing operation;
- a second frame that supports a developing roller for supplying the developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said second frame being integrally joined to said first frame;
- and
- a third frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said third frame being rotatably joined to said first and second frames,
- wherein said first, second, and third frames are made of the same material, and
- wherein a rear wall of said third frame is reinforced by ribs.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.