Cartridge and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025013192-A1
Application number	US-202418895625-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2024
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Jan 9, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cartridge includes a first unit including a photosensitive member and a first frame; a second unit including a developing member and a second frame; a holding portion movable between a first position for holding the second unit at the separated position and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position; a movable member; and an urging portion. the movable member is movable to a contact force receiving position, a separating force receiving position separating force receiving portion, a first retracted position, and a second retracted position. The urging portion urges the movable member placed at the first retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the contact force receiving position, and urges the movable member placed at the second retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the separating force receiving position.

First claim

1 . A cartridge comprising:
a first unit including a photosensitive member, and a first frame rotatably supporting the photosensitive member; a second unit including a developing member for depositing toner onto the photosensitive member, and a second frame rotatably supporting the developing member, wherein the second unit is movable between a developing position in which toner can be deposited onto the photosensitive member from the developing member, and a separated position in which at least a part of the developing member is spaced from the photosensitive member; a holding portion, movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, for restricting a relative position between the first unit and the second unit, wherein the holding portion is movable between a first position for holding the second unit at the separated position by the first unit and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position; a movable member movably supported by the first frame or the second frame and including (i) a contact force receiving portion capable of receiving a contact force for moving the holding portion from the first position toward the second position to move the second unit to the developing position when the second unit is at the separated position, and a separating force receiving portion capable of receiving a separating force for moving the holding portion from the second position toward the first position to move the second unit to the separated position when the second unit is at the developing position; and an urging portion for urging the movable member, wherein the movable member is movable to a contact force receiving position for receiving the contact force by the contact force receiving portion, a separating force receiving position for receiving the separating force by the separating force receiving portion, a first retracted position away from the contact force receiving position in a direction of being away from the separating force receiving position, a second retracted position away from the separating force receiving position in a direction of being away from the contact force receiving position, and wherein the urging portion urges the movable member placed at the first retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the contact force receiving position, and urges the movable member placed at the second retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the separating force receiving position.

2 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the holding portion is capable of restricting, when it is at the first position, movement of the second unit from the separated position to the developing position, and permits, when the holding portion is at the second position, movement of the second unit from the separated position to the developing position.

3 . A cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the holding portion restricts, when it is at the first position, movement of the second unit from the separated position to the developing position by contact with the first frame and with the second frame.

4 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member is provided with the holding portion.

5 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member is rotatably supported by a supporting portion provided on the first frame or the second frame, and moves between the first retracted position and the second retracted position.

6 . A cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the movable member is rotatable by not less than 95° with respect to the supporting portion to move between the first retracted position and the second retracted position.

7 . A cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the movable member is rotatable by not less than 100° with respect to the supporting portion to move between the first retracted position and the second retracted position.

8 . A cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the supporting portion is provided on the second frame.

9 . A cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein the holding portion is provided with a contact portion which contacts the first frame when the holding portion is at the first position.

10 . A cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the supporting portion is provided on the first frame.

11 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the urging portion includes an elastic member.

12 . A cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the elastic member has one end portion connected with the first frame or the second frame and the other end portion connected with the movable member.

13 . A cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein the elastic member includes a spring.

14 . A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member is provided with a projected portion capable of projecting out beyond the first frame and the second frame at least in a direction away from a rotational axis of the developing member, and the contact force receiving portion and the separating force receiving portion are provided on the projected portion.

15 - 59 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Koishi Isao
• Toba Shinjiro
• Kawanami Takeo
• Nishida Shinichi
• Fukui Yuichi
• Egami Yasuyuki
• FUJINO Toshiki
• Hirayama Akinobu
• Sasaki Teruhiko
• Kawai Tachio
• Abe Daisuke

Classifications

• G03G21/1825 Primary

  Pivotable subunit connection · CPC title

• G03G2221/1861

  Rotational subunit connection · CPC title

• G03G2221/1869

  Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein · CPC title

• G03G2221/1884

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

• G03G21/1842

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