Cleaning frame, cleaning device, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus with segregated waste toner container

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a cleaning member for removing toner from the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner transporting portion having a toner transporting member for transporting the toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning member;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner transported by said toner transporting portion, wherein said toner accommodating portion is divided into a plurality of chambers by a first separation member;
• a second separation member provided between said toner transporting portion and said toner accommodating portion, said second separation member having an accommodation opening for each of said chambers for permitting the toner to pass from said toner transporting portion to said toner accommodating portion.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising:

• a. a mounting portion for detachably mounting a process cartridge, which process cartridge includes:
• electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a cleaning member for removing toner from the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner transporting portion having a toner transporting member for transporting the toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning member;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner transported by said toner transporting portion, wherein said toner accommodating portion is divided into a plurality of chambers by a first separation member;
• and
• a second separation member provided between said toner transporting portion and said toner accommodating portion, said second separation member having an accommodation opening for each of said chambers for permitting the toner to pass from said toner transporting portion to said toner accommodating portion;
• and
• b. transporting means for transporting the recording material.

A cleaning frame for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a cleaning member mounting portion for mounting a cleaning member for removing toner from an electrophotographic photosensitive member of said apparatus;
• a toner transporting member mounting portion for mounting a toner transporting member for transporting the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning member mounted to said cleaning member mounting portion;
• a first partition between a toner transporting portion, through which the toner is transported by said toner transporting member mounted to said toner transporting member mounting portion, and a toner accommodating portion, for accommodating the toner transported in said toner transporting portion;
• an accommodation opening formed in said first partition to permit the toner to pass into said toner accommodating portion;
• a second partition separating an inside of said toner transporting portion into a plurality of portions;
• a transportation opening formed in said second partition to pass the toner fed by said toner transporting member;
• and a third partition for separating an inside of said toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner.

A cleaning device for removing toner from an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which cleaning device is usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a cleaning member for removing the toner from said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a plurality of toner transporting members, arranged along a toner transportation direction, for transporting the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning member, away from said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner transporting portion through which the toner is transported away from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said toner transporting member;
• a plurality of separation members, arranged along the toner transportation direction, for separating an inside of said toner transporting portion in the toner transportation direction, wherein each of said separation members is provided with a toner opening for passing toner in the toner transportation direction;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein said toner accommodating portion takes a position below said toner transporting portion when said cleaning device is mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and said toner accommodating portion is separated into a plurality of portions in the toner transportation direction;
• a plurality of falling openings, arranged in the toner transportation direction, for permitting the toner transported in said toner transporting portion by said toner transporting member to fall into said toner accommodating portion;
• a downstream toner accommodating portion disposed downstream in the toner transportation direction;
• first and second light transmission openings, for permitting the main assembly of said apparatus to detect that a predetermined amount of the toner is substantially accommodated in said downstream toner accommodating portion, when said cleaning device is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• a transporting member driving force receptor portion for receiving driving force from the main assembly of said apparatus to rotate said toner transporting members, when said cleaning device is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said plurality of toner transporting members are rotated by the driving force received by said transporting member driving force receptor portion from the main assembly.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cleaning member for removing toner deposited on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller being contacted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a plurality of toner transporting members, arranged along a toner transportation direction, for transporting the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said cleaning member away from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner transporting portion through which the toner is transported away from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said toner transporting member;
• a plurality of separation members, arranged along the toner transportation direction, for separating an inside of said toner transporting portion in the toner transportation direction, wherein each of said separation members is provided with a toner opening for passing toner in the toner transportation direction;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said toner accommodating portion takes a position below said toner transporting portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and said toner accommodating portion is separated into a plurality of portions in the toner transportation direction;
• a plurality of falling openings, arranged in the toner transportation direction, for permitting the toner transported in said toner transporting portion by said toner transporting member to fall into said toner accommodating portion;
• a downstream toner accommodating portion disposed downstream in the toner transportation direction;
• first and second light transmission openings, for permitting the main assembly of said apparatus to detect that a predetermined amount of the toner is substantially accommodated in said downstream toner accommodating portion, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a drum driving force receptor portion for receiving driving force from the main assembly to rotate said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a transporting member driving force receptor portion for receiving a driving force from the main assembly to rotate said toner transporting members when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said plurality of toner transporting members are rotated by the driving force received from the main assembly by said transporting member driving force receptor portion.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising:

• a. a mounting portion for detachably mounting the process cartridge, the cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a cleaning member for removing toner deposited on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a charging roller for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said charging roller being contacted to said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a plurality of toner transporting members, arranged along toner transportation direction, for transporting the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said cleaning member, away from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner transporting portion for transportation of the toner away from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said toner transporting members;
• a plurality of separation members, arranged along the toner transportation direction, for separating an inside of said toner transporting portion in the toner transportation direction, wherein each of said separation members is provided with a toner opening for passing toner in the toner transportation direction;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein said toner accommodating portion takes a position below said toner transporting portion when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and said toner accommodating portion is separated into a plurality of portions in the toner transportation direction;
• a plurality of falling openings, arranged in the toner transportation direction, for permitting the toner transported in said toner transporting portion by said toner transporting member to fall into said toner accommodating portion;
• a downstream toner accommodating portion disposed downstream in the toner transportation direction;
• first and second light transmission openings, for permitting the main assembly of said apparatus to detect that a predetermined amount of the toner is substantially accommodated in said downstream toner accommodating portion, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• a drum driving force receptor portion for receiving a driving force from the main assembly to rotate said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• and
• a transporting member driving force receptor portion for receiving a driving force from the main assembly of said apparatus to rotate said toner transporting members, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, wherein said plurality of toner transporting members are rotated by the driving force received by said transporting member driving force receptor portion from the main assembly;
• b. a drum driving force transmission portion for transmitting the driving force to said drum driving force receptor portion provided in said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• c. a transporting member driving force transmission portion for transmitting the driving force to said transporting member driving force receptor portion of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
• d. a light emission member for projecting light into said downstream toner accommodating portion through the first light transmission opening of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• e. a light receiving element for receiving the light emitted out of said second light transmission opening of said process cartridge, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
• and
• f. a transporting member for transporting the recording material.