Cartridge, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935926-B2
Application number	US-202016782520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A technique enabling downsizing of an image forming apparatus is provided. A cleaning unit 13 attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a recording material 12 is provided, with this cleaning unit 13 including: a photosensitive drum 1; and a cleaning frame body 14 that supports the photosensitive drum 1 and that includes an opening 14c through which laser light 3c for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 can pass, wherein the opening 14c is configured such that a width of the opening 14c in a scanning direction in an irradiation range of the light for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 becomes greater toward a side of the photosensitive drum 1 from a side of a light source of light for exposing the photosensitive drum 1.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cartridge attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the cartridge being used with a developing unit that is attachable to the apparatus main body and positioned adjacent to the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive body; and
a frame body that supports the photosensitive body,
wherein the frame body includes a first restricted portion that is restricted by a first restricting portion provided in the apparatus main body and a second restricted portion that is restricted by a second restricting portion provided in the apparatus main body,
wherein the first restricted portion and second restricted portion are configured such that, when viewed along a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive body, a straight line connecting the first restricted portion and the second restricted portion crosses a path of light for exposing the photosensitive body,
wherein the frame body is provided with an opening portion for allowing the light to pass through, and
wherein, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive body, with respect to the path of light, the first restricted portion is positioned on a same side as the developing unit and the second restricted portion is positioned on a side opposite to the developing unit.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the opening portion is configured such that a width of the opening portion in a scanning direction in an irradiation range of the light for exposing the photosensitive body becomes greater toward a side of the photosensitive body from a side of a light source of the light for exposing the photosensitive body.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first restricted portion is provided at a position more separated from the photosensitive body than the second restricted portion.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive body, another developing unit is attachable to the apparatus main body on a side opposite to the developing unit in the apparatus main body with respect to the cartridge, and
wherein the first restricted portion is positioned on an opposite side so as to sandwich the path of light with the other developing cartridge.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the frame body includes a connecting portion that connects the first restricted portion and the second restricted portion with each other.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the light for exposing the photosensitive body is laser light.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a charging member that charges the photosensitive body;
a cleaning member that cleans a surface of the photosensitive body; and
a housing portion that houses a removed object having been removed by the cleaning member from the surface of the photosensitive body.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the housing portion includes a discharge port for discharging the removed object to outside of the cartridge, and a conveying member that conveys the removed object toward the discharge port.

9. A process cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:
the cartridge according to claim 1 ; and
a developing cartridge provided with a developer bearing member that bears developer for developing an electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive body.

10. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the developing cartridge further includes a developer housing portion having a housing chamber that houses developer and a plurality of vent holes for ventilation between the inside and the outside of the housing chamber, and
wherein a hole size of a vent hole at a position opposing the frame body, from among the plurality of vent holes, is larger than a hole size of a vent hole at a position exposed via the opening.

11. An image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording material, wherein the cartridge according to claim 1 is configured in plurality to be attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body along an axial direction of the photosensitive body.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive body, a shortest distance from the first restricted portion to another straight line in which the path of light exists, is shorter than a shortest distance from the second restricted portion to the another straight line.

14. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the light for exposing the photosensitive body emits from a side of the first restricted portion to a side of the second restricted portion along the path of the light.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Takeuchi Toshiaki
• Ueno Takahito
• Nakamura Yuuki
• Suzuki Kensuke

Classifications

• G01G21/18 Primary

  Link connections between the beam and the weigh pan · CPC title

• G03G2221/1884

  Projections on process cartridge for guiding mounting thereof in main machine · CPC title

• G03G2221/1861

  Rotational subunit connection · CPC title

• G03G21/1814 Primary

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1842

  for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence) · CPC title