Electrophotography – Internal machine environment – Forced air circulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-04-17
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Internal machine environment
Forced air circulation
C399S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219504
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of detachably mounting the process cartridge.
The electrophographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium electrophotographic image forming process, and comprises, for example, an electrophotographic copier, an electrophotographic printer (such as an LED (light-emitting diode) printer, a laser-beam printer or the like), an electrophotographic facsimile apparatus, or an electrophographic word processor.
The process cartridge includes developing means or cleaning means, and charging means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrated to form the cartridge so as to be detachably mountable in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or includes at least one of developing means and cleaning means, and charging means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member which are integrated to form the cartridge so as to be detachably mountable in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or includes at least charging means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member which are integrated to form the cartridge so as to be detachably moutable in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatuses for forming an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process, a process cartridge method is adopted in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means operating thereon are integrated to form a process cartridge so as to be detachably mountable in the main body of the image forming apparatus. According to this process cartridge method, maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without calling a serviceman, resulting in great improvement in the operability of the apparatus. Hence, the process cartridge method is widely being used in image forming apparatuses.
The process cartridge includes a cleaning unit provided by integrating charging means, cleaning means and a photosensitive drum, and a developing unit provided by integrating developing means and toner to be supplied thereto. The cleaning unit and the developing unit are connected by a connecting member in order to constitute the process cartridge.
The developing unit also includes a toner frame for accommodating the toner to be supplied to the developing means, and a developing frame for supporting the developing means. The toner frame and the developing frame are integrally fixed according to ultrasonic welding or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which prevents deformation of a frame and the adverse influence on toner and respective process means due to heat by discharging heat accumulated at a surrounding portion of an electrophotographic photosensitive member and within the process cartridge.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a process cartridge detachably mountable in a main body of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, frames for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging means, first holes for taking in air, provided at one end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction and opened at a portion near one end portion of the charging means in the longitudinal direction, and second holes for discharging air, provided at another end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction and opened at a portion near another end portion of the charging means in the longitudinal direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a process cartridge detachably mountable in a main body of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, frames for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging means, first holes for taking in air, provided at one end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction so as to cross the longitudinal direction of the charging means, and second holes for discharging air, provided at another end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the charging means.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a process cartridge detachably mountable in a main body of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member using toner, a cartridge frame obtained by disposing the charging means in a space between a frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging means and a frame for supporting the developing means, and connecting the two frames, first holes for taking in air into the space, provided at one end portion of the cartridge frame in the longitudinal direction, and second holes for discharging air from the space, provided at another end portion of the cartridge frame in the longitudinal direction.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, capable of detachably mounting a process cartridge, for forming an image on a recording medium includes (a) a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, frames for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging means, first holes for taking in air, provided at one end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction and opened at a portion near one end portion of the charging means in the longitudinal direction, and second holes for discharging air, provided at another end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction and opened at a portion near another end portion of the charging means in the longitudinal direction, (b) mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, (c) intake holes, communicating with the first holes, provided at an outer frame of a main body of the image forming apparatus facing the first holes of the process cartridge, in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, (d) discharge means for discharging air within the main body of the image forming apparatus communicating with the second holes of the process cartridge to the outside of the apparatus, in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and (e) conveyance means for conveying the recording medium.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, capable of detachably mounting a process cartridge, for forming an image on a recording medium includes (a) a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, frames for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging means, first holes for taking in air, provided at one end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction so as to cross the longitudinal direction of the charging means, and second holes for discharging air, provided at another end portion of the frames in the longitudinal direction so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the charging means, (b) mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, (c) intake holes, communicating with the first holes, provided at an outer frame of a main body of the image forming appar
Chadani Kazuo
Matsuzaki Hiroomi
Suzuki Akira
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Chen Sophia S.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
LandOfFree
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Process cartridge and image forming apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process cartridge and image forming apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489616