Image forming system having means to support at least one component of a process cartridge

An image forming system having a main body onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable and having an open/close member openable and closable relative to said main body, said image forming system comprising:

• mounting means provided on said open/close member for removably mounting the process cartridge to a mounting position, which includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for supplying toner to the drum, a cartridge frame, and a support member attached to the cartridge frame for supporting the developing roller on the cartridge frame, the process cartridge being mounted onto said mounting means in a condition where said open/close member is opened, and is located at the mounting position in a condition where said open/close member is closed;
• a drive gear for transmitting a drive force to a first gear provided at one end of the drum of the process cartridge mounted to the mounting position;
• supporting means for supporting the support member of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloping downwardly from a position corresponding to the developing roller of the process cartridge mounted to the mounting position to a position corresponding to the drum, and said supporting means supporting a coaxial portion coaxial with an axial line of the developing roller and being arranged at a same end of said main body as said drive gear;
• a transfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on the drum of the process cartridge mounted to the mounting position to a recording medium, said transfer roller comprising a transfer gear meshing with a second gear provided on the drum at a same end as the first gear, said transfer gear being rotated by a drive force from the drum, the drum being rotated by the drive force from said drive gear;
• fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium by said transfer roller;
• and
• conveying means for conveying the recording medium.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including mounting means for removably mounting said process cartridge to a mounting position, supporting means for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and conveying means for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for supplying toner to said drum;
• a cartridge frame;
• and
• a support member for supporting said developing roller on said frame,
• wherein said drum comprises a first gear disposed at one end thereof, meshing with a drive gear of the image forming system, for receiving a drive force from a main body of the image forming system, said developing roller comprises a developing gear disposed at one end thereof, and said first gear meshes with said developing gear for transmitting the drive force to said developing roller, wherein said support member supports said developing roller at a portion of said cartridge frame, wherein said drum comprises a second gear disposed at said one end of said drum that said first gear is disposed at for transmitting a drive force to a transfer roller in the main body to thereby rotate the transfer roller, and wherein said support member is supported by the supporting means in the main body when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system for forming an image onto a recording medium, the image forming system including mounting means for removably mounting said process cartridge to a mounting position, a drive gear for transmitting a drive force to a first helical gear provided at one end of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum in said process cartridge mounted onto the mounting means, supporting means for supporting a support member in said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, said supporting means having a sloped surface sloping downwardly from a position corresponding to a developing roller of said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position to a position corresponding to the drum, for supporting the support member of said process cartridge, the supporting means being arranged at a same end of a main body of the image forming system as the drive gear, a transfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on said drum of said process cartridge mounted to the mounting position onto a recording medium, the transfer roller comprising a transfer gear meshing with a second helical gear provided on said drum, the transfer gear being rotated by a drive force from said drum which is rotated by a drive force from the drive gear, fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium by the transfer roller, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for supplying toner to said drum;
• a cartridge frame;
• and
• a support member for supporting said developing roller on a cartridge frame portion;
• wherein said drum comprises said first helical gear disposed at one end thereof meshing with the drive gear for receiving a drive force from the main body of the image forming system when said process cartridge is mounted onto the main body, said developing roller comprising a developing gear disposed at one end thereof, and said first helical gear meshing with said developing gear for transmitting the drive force to said developing roller, wherein said support member supports said developing roller on a portion of said cartridge frame, wherein said drum further comprises said second helical gear disposed at a same end as said first helical gear for transmitting the drive force to the transfer roller in the main body to thereby rotate the transfer roller, and wherein said support member is supported by the supporting means in the main body when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member, including a developing sleeve having a shaft supported by a bearing, for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloping downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member supporting the shaft of the developing sleeve via the bearing when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member, including a developing sleeve having a shaft, for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloping downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member supporting the shaft of the developing sleeve when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member, including a developing sleeve having a bearing, for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member supporting a shaft via the bearing when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting with said sloped surface the process cartridge at the attachment member when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member, including a developing sleeve having a bearing for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge and the developing sleeve via the attachment member by supporting a portion of the frame where the attachment member is attached to the frame when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body on which a process cartridge is removably mountable, the process cartridge including a frame;

• a toner bearing member;
• a first attachment member for attaching the toner bearing member to the frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a shaft and a bearing member for receiving the shaft;
• and a second attachment member for attaching the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the frame;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means including a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounting position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the first and second attachment members when the process cartridge is mounted on said main body;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner carrying member, including a developing sleeve having a bearing, for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to a frame portion is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounted position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member when said process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a shaft;
• a toner carrying member for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means including a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounting position of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member supporting the shaft of the photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body in which a process cartridge including a frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a shaft;
• a toner carrying member for conveying toner;
• and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame is mountable;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means including a sloped surface sloped downwardly toward a mounting position of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for removably supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member supporting the shaft of the electrophotographic photosensitive member when the process cartridge is mounted in said image forming system;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body on which a process cartridge is removably mountable, the process cartridge including a frame;

• a toner bearing member;
• a first attachment member for attaching the toner bearing member to the frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a shaft and bearing means for receiving the shaft;
• and a second attachment member for attaching the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the frame;
• said image forming system comprising:
• supporting means for removably supporting the process cartridge at the first and second attachment members when the process cartridge is mounted on said main body, said supporting means comprising a portion for holding down an upper portion of the second attachment member so as to prevent the second attachment member from floating;
• and
• feeding means for feeding the recording medium.

An image forming system having a main body onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for supplying toner to the drum, a cartridge frame, and a support member attached to a cartridge frame portion for supporting the developing roller on the cartridge frame portion, said image forming system comprising:

• mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge to a mounting position;
• supporting means comprising a sloped surface sloping downwardly from a position corresponding to the developing roller to a position corresponding to the drum for supporting the support member of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• and
• conveying means for conveying a recording medium.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including a supporting member for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position, and a conveying member for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller comprising a magnet disposed therein for supplying toner to said drum, said developing roller being biased toward said drum by a spring;
• and
• a support member for supporting one end of said developing roller on said cartridge frame supported on a portion of said cartridge frame located at one end of said developing roller, said support member being protruded outwardly from said cartridge frame portion to be supported, at the protruded portion thereof, by said support member in the main body of the image forming system when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein another end of said developing roller opposite said one end is supported by said cartridge frame via a bearing member.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including mounting means for removably mounting said process cartridge, supporting means in a main body of the image forming system for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted onto the mounting means, and conveying means for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising a first gear disposed at one end thereof;
• a developing roller, comprising a magnet disposed therein and a developing gear disposed at one end thereof that meshes with said first gear, for supplying toner to said drum, said developing roller biased toward said drum by a spring;
• and
• a support member for supporting said developing roller on said cartridge frame by supporting, via a first bearing, a shaft provided at said one end of said developing roller,
• wherein another end of said developing roller opposite said one end is supported by said cartridge frame via a second bearing member.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including mounting means for removably mounting said process cartridge, supporting means in a main body of the image forming system for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted onto the mounting means, and conveying means for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprising a first gear and a second gear disposed at one end thereof, said first gear comprising a helical gear meshing with a drive gear provided on a main body of the image forming system for receiving a drive force from the main body, said second gear for transmitting a drive force to a transfer roller of the main body to thereby rotate the transfer roller;
• a developing roller, comprising a developing gear disposed at one end thereof that meshes with said first gear, for supplying toner to said drum;
• and
• a support member for supporting said developing roller on said cartridge frame at said one end of said developing roller.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming system, the image forming system including a mounting member for removably mounting said process cartridge to a mounting position, a main body supporting member for supporting a bearing holder of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position, and a conveying device for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a first gear and a second gear disposed at a same end of said drum in a longitudinal direction thereof, said first gear including a helical gear meshing with a drive gear provided on the main body of the image forming system for receiving a drive force from the main body, said second gear for transmitting a drive force to a transfer roller of the main body to thereby rotate the transfer roller;
• a developing roller, having a developing gear disposed at one end thereof that meshes with said first gear, for supplying toner to said drum, and having a rotary shaft on which said developing gear is disposed;
• a bearing member having a bore portion extending therethrough for supporting said rotary shaft at said one end of said developing roller, and having a plurality of flat outer peripheral surfaces;
• and
• a bearing holder having a slot, including a plurality of flat surfaces, formed therethrough for supporting said developing roller via said bearing member and said rotary shaft, and having an outer peripheral supported surface, said bearing holder being disposed in said cartridge frame adjacent said one end of said developing roller,
• wherein, when said process cartridge is mounted onto the main body of the image forming apparatus, said bearing member is slidably mounted in said slot of said bearing holder such that said bearing member is slidable in a direction sloping downwardly from a position of said developing roller to a position of said drum, and said outer peripheral supported surface of said bearing holder is supported by the main body supporting member in the direction sloping downwardly from the position of said developing roller to the position of said drum.

An image forming system having a main body onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable, the process cartridge including a cartridge frame;

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a first gear and a second gear disposed at a same end of the drum in a longitudinal direction thereof, the first gear including a helical gear meshing with a drive gear provided on said main body of said image forming system for receiving a drive force from said main body, the second gear for transmitting a drive force to a transfer roller of said main body to thereby rotate said transfer roller;
• a developing roller, having a developing gear disposed at one end thereof that meshes with the first gear, for supplying toner to the drum, and having a rotary shaft on which the developing gear is disposed;
• a bearing member having a bore portion extending therethrough for supporting the rotary shaft at the one end of the developing roller, and having a plurality of flat outer peripheral surfaces;
• and a bearing holder having a slot, including a plurality of flat surfaces, formed therethrough for supporting the developing roller, via the bearing member and the rotary shaft, on the cartridge frame, and having an outer peripheral supported surface, the bearing holder being disposed in the cartridge frame adjacent the one end of the developing roller;
• said image forming system comprising:
• a mounting member onto which the process cartridge is removably mountable to a mounting position;
• a main body supporting member comprising a sloped surface sloping downwardly from a position corresponding to the developing roller to a position corresponding to the drum for supporting the outer peripheral supported surface of the bearing holder of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• a transfer roller for transferring a toner image from the drum to a recording medium;
• and
• a conveying member for conveying the recording medium,
• wherein, when the process cartridge is mounted onto said main body of said image forming apparatus, the bearing member is slidably mounted in the slot of the bearing holder such that the bearing member is slidable in a direction sloping downwardly from a position of the developing roller to a position of the drum, and the outer peripheral supported surface of the bearing holder is supported by said main body supporting member in the direction sloping downwardly from the position of the developing roller to the position of the drum.

An image forming system, for forming an image on a recording medium, having a main body onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising:

• a) a mounting member for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including:
• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller including a magnet disposed therein for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being biased toward the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by a spring;
• and
• a support member for supporting one end of the developing roller on the cartridge frame supported on a portion of the cartridge frame located at one end of the developing roller, the support member being protruded outwardly from the cartridge frame portion to be supported at the protruded portion thereof by a supporting member in said main body of said image forming system when the process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position,
• wherein another end of the developing roller opposite the one end is supported by the cartridge frame via a bearing member;
• b) a supporting member including a sloped surface sloping downwardly from a position corresponding to the developing roller to a position corresponding to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for supporting the protruded portion of the support member of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position;
• and
• c) a conveying member for conveying a recording medium.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including a supporting member for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position, and a conveying member for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first gear provided at one end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller including a magnet disposed therein for supplying toner to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being biased towards said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by a spring;
• a developing gear provided at one end of said developing roller and meshing with said first gear to receive rotational force therefrom;
• a support member for supporting one end of said developing roller on said cartridge frame supported on a portion of said cartridge frame located at one end of said developing roller, said support member protruding outwardly from said cartridge frame portion to be supported at said protruded portion by the supporting member in a main body of the image forming system when said process cartridge is mounted at the mounting position, and said process cartridge being supported at a portion of said support member coaxial with an axis of said developing roller,
• wherein another end of said developing roller opposite said one end is supported by said cartridge frame via a bearing member.

An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and having a main body onto which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising:

• a) a mounting member for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including:
• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a first gear provided at one end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller including a magnet disposed therein for supplying toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being biased towards the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by a spring;
• a developing gear provided at one end of the developing roller and meshing with the first gear to receive rotational force therefrom;
• a support member for supporting one end of the developing roller on the cartridge frame supported on a portion of the cartridge frame located at one end of the developing roller, the support member protruding outwardly from the cartridge frame portion to be supported at the protruded portion by a supporting member in a main body of said image forming system when the process cartridge is mounted at a mounting position, and the process cartridge being supported at a portion of the supporting member coaxial with an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
• wherein another end of the developing roller opposite the one end is supported by the cartridge frame via a bearing member;
• b) a supporting member for supporting the process cartridge in the mounting position, said supporting member supporting the outwardly protruded portion and the portion coaxial with the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum of the process cartridge, said supporting member further supporting the coaxial portion by a concave portion and supporting the protruded portion by a sloped surface downwardly sloping toward said concave portion;
• and
• c) a conveying member for conveying the recording medium.

A process cartridge removably mountable onto an image forming system, the image forming system including mounting means for removably mounting said process cartridge, supporting means for supporting a support member of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position, and conveying means for conveying a recording medium to thereby form an image on the recording medium when said process cartridge is mounted onto the image forming system, said process cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller comprising a magnet disposed therein for supplying toner to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said developing roller being biased toward said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by a spring;
• and
• a support member for supporting one end of said developing roller on said cartridge frame, said support member having a protruded portion protruded outwardly from said cartridge frame and supported by supporting means in a main body of the image forming system when said process cartridge is mounted to the mounting position,
• wherein another end of said developing roller opposite said one end is supported by said cartridge frame via a bearing member.