Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-02
2001-07-03
Moses, Richard (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256467
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on a electrophotographic photosensitive member when an image is formed on a recording material through an electrophotographic image forming process, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the developing cartridge. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus means an apparatus which forms images on recording medium, using an electrophotographic image forming process. It includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer) an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like.
Here, the developing cartridge is a cartridge which contains as a unit a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with toner and a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner, said cartridge being detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
A conventional structure of an apparatus for forming a multi-color image through an electrophotographic process, includes a rotary type selection mechanism (developing rotary or turret) loaded with a plurality of developing cartridges accommodating different color developers (toner). The developing cartridge accommodating the proper color developer is opposed to the photosensitive drum, and develops the image with the developer therein, and then, the developed image is transferred onto a recording material. By effecting the developing and transferring operations for each color, a multi-color image is formed. This method has been proposed. In such an image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge may be in the form of a unit or cartridge detachably mountable relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The developing cartridge may be exchanged by the user. By doing so, the maintenance operation of the main assembly of the apparatus is eased.
When the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge is inserted into the main assembly in the direction of the rotation axial direction of the developing roller at a predetermined position; therefore, the area of the mounting opening of the main assembly for permitting the mounting and demounting of the cartridge is minimized.
In such a structure, the developing cartridge is required to be driven at a position opposed to the photosensitive drum. To accomplish this, a drive transmission gear is stationarily provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, and is connected with a driving force receiving member on the developing cartridge to transmit the driving force when the developing cartridge is moved to the position opposed to the photosensitive drum.
Such a developing cartridge is constituted by a developing frame supporting a developing member such as a developing roller or an application roller, and a toner frame accommodating the toner and coupled with the developing frame (cartridge frame structure). Consequently, the size of the developing cartridge is small.
The developing cartridge is provided with a shutter for covering the developing roller when the developing cartridge is out of the main assembly, and for exposing, when it is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a part of the developing roller (exposed portion). There is provided a flexible sealing member for sealing between the shutter and the cartridge frame when the shutter is closed.
Such a developing cartridge is also provided with a remaining toner amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the toner accommodated therein.
In order to establish a circuit for supplying a developing bias to the developing roller when the developing cartridge is mounted to the developing rotary, there are provided contacts on the developing cartridge and the developing rotary which are contactable to each other.
Such developing cartridges have the same structure and dimensions irrespective of the color of the toner therein, and to correctly position them on the developing rotary, the developing cartridges are provided with information indicative of the color.
In order to supply the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the developing member prior to the start of the use of the developing cartridge, the developing cartridge is provided with a toner seal for hermetically separating the developing member and the toner accommodating portion before the start of use, and the toner seal is pulled out by the user when it is used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a developing cartridge side cover, a mounting method thereof, and a developing cartridge having the developing cartridge side cover.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a developing cartridge side cover, a mounting method thereof, and a developing cartridge having a developing cartridge side cover.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a developing cartridge side cover as a part of a developing frame, a mounting method thereof, and a developing cartridge using the side cover, wherein a positional relation between an opening for exposing a driving force receiving member and a developing bias contact is correctly determined.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a developing cartridge side cover, a mounting method thereof, and a developing cartridge side cover having the developing cartridge side cover, wherein the developing bias voltage and driving force can be received assuredly from the main assembly of the apparatus.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5640229 (1997-06-01), Nakahara
patent: 5648838 (1997-07-01), Michlin et al.
Kanno Kazuhiko
Nittani Susumu
Yokomori Kanji
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Moses Richard
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