Process cartridge and image forming system

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable within an image forming system, comprises an image bearing member, action means for acting on the image bearing member, a housing for supporting the image bearing member and the action means, and a cover shiftable between a protecting position where the image bearing member is protected and a retard position where the cover is retarded from the protecting position. Cover is spaced apart from the housing at least in the retard position. An image forming system comprises mounting means for mounting such process cartridge, air flow generating means for generating an air flow passing through between the housing and the cover, transfer means for transferring a developed image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording medium, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium.

Description: The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming system within which such process cartridge can be mounted. The image forming system may be an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer (LBP), a facsimile system, a word processor or the like. In the past, an image forming system having a removable process cartridge including a desired process means necessary for forming an image, thereby permitting the easy replacement of the cartridge due to the expiration of the service life of the cartridge or the like has been proposed (refer to U.S. Patent 3,985,436). Further, a plurality of process cartridges having developers of different colors therein can be used to form a color image, and thus, have high frequency in exchange, and in some cases, the process cartridge alone is disposed outside the image forming system. Under the circumstances, it is necessary to prevent a photosensitive member from being smudged or damaged and to prevent the photosensitive member from being exposed to light (which leads to the deterioration of the photosensitive member). To this end, the process cartridge is provided with a cover member for protecting the photosensitive member and shielding the interior of the cartridge from ambient light. Examples of such cover members are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,470, 689 and 4,462,677 and in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-11158 (published on March 13, 1990). DE-A-3220538 discloses a cartridge having a movable cover member which, when the cartridge is installed in an image forming system, moves from its position covering the photosensitive drum to a retracted position, and in this retracted position serves to guide or deflect an air flow within the image forming system, as does US-4540268. JP-A-5961865 discloses a cartridge having a movable cover which, in a retracted position, acts as a shield to protect the drum from heat radiating from a fixer station of the image forming system. The present invention relates to the improvement in the above invented techniques. An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system which can be protected from a bad influence of heat. A further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system which can discharge heat effectively. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system wherein a protection member for protecting an image bearing member from light and (or) smudge forms a part of a fluid passage. A further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system which can prevent deterioration of features of an image bearing member due to heat. Embodiments of the invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of a laser beam printer to which the process cartridge of Fig. 1 and 2 is applied. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge to which a second embodiment of the present invention is applied; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a process cartridge to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied; Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional view of a main portion of a laser beam printer to which a fourth embodiment is applied; Fig. 7 is an elevational sectional view of a main portion of a laser beam printer to which a fifth embodiment of the present invention is applied; and Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional view of a main portion of a laser beam printer to which a sixth embodiment of the present invention is applied. The present invention will now be explained in connection with embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described, a laser beam printer 100 is used as the image forming system. First of all, a process cartridge 103 to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 1 a perspective view of such cartridge; these Figures show a condition that the cover is open. In Fig. 2 air flows are also shown by the arrows. However, it should be noted that these air flows are generated after the cartridge has been mounted within the laser beam printer. According to this embodiment, a drum shutter 138 provided on a process cartridge 103 has a ventilating guide portion so that cool air can be directed to a photosensitive drum 131 and a cleaner member 137. In this way, it is possible to suppress the increase in temperature of the cartridge 103, and in particular the photosensitive drum 131 and the cleaner member 137 therein. In Figs. 1 and 2 the reference numeral 131 denotes the above-mentioned photosensitive drum rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction. The reference numeral 132 denotes a charger roller for uniformly charging a photosensitive member 131a on the drum. The charger roller 132 is urged against the photosensitive drum 131 by a spring 132a. The reference numeral 137 denotes the above-mentioned cleaner member having an elastic cleaning blade 136 urged against the photosensitive member 131a and adapted to remove the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member 131a. The reference numeral 134 denotes a developing device having a developing sleeve 134b for conveying toner contained in a toner containing portion 134a to a peripheral surface of the photosensitive member, and a doctor blade-134c for regulating a thickness of a toner layer formed on a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 134b. The reference numeral 138 denotes the above-mentioned drum shutter mounted on a shaft 138-1 arranged above the photosensitive drum 131 for pivotal movement in directions B1 and B2. When the drum shutter is rotated in the direction B1, the photosensitive member 131a is exposed, thus permitting the transfer of the image. On the other hand, when the drum shutter is rotated in the direction B2, the photosensitive member is covered by the drum shutter, thus protecting the photosensitive member 131a. The cartridge 103 according to this embodiment has a frame 103a supporting the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 131, charger roller 132, developing device 134, developer containing portion 134a, cleaner member 137 and drum shutter 138 therein. The frame 103a of the cartridge can be mounted within an image forming system 100. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the drum shutter 138 is formed from polycarbonate and the frame 103a is formed from high impact styrol to enhance the anti-impact feature, fastness and heat-resistance of them. Now, the movement of the drum shutter 138 will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 The drum shutter 138 is pivotally mounted on the frame 103a of the cartridge at its base end via pins 138-1, 138-2 so that it can be rocked in directions (shown by the arrows B1, B2) in response to opening/closing movement of a front unit 112 (Fig. 12) provided on the printer 100. More particularly, the printer 100 (Fig. 3 is provided with a lever 113 engaged by a pin 138-3 of the drum shutter 138 and shifted in response to the opening/closing movement of the front unit 112. When the front unit 112 is opened, the lever 113 is lowered, with the result that the drum shutter is closed by a biasing force of a spring and the like (not shown). When the photosensitive drum 131 is exposed (i.e., when the cartridge 103 is in a condition that it is detached from the printer 100 or when the front unit 112 is opened), since the drum shutter 138 is automatically closed to cover the photosensitive drum 131, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive drum 131 from being exposed by the ambient light or being touched by the operator's hand inadvertently. Further, when the operator closes the front unit 112, the pin 138-3 is lifted by the lever 113 to open the drum shutter 138. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1. when the drum shutter 138 is opened, a central portion of an inner surface (i.e. that surface opposing the photosensitive drum 131 when the cover is closed) of the drum shutter 138 is protruded outwardly to create a space or clearance S between a housing 139 of the process cartridge 103 and the shutter. That is to say, a longitudinal protruded member 138-4 is formed on the inner surface of the drum shutter 138, and a clearance 138-5 (about 2 - 5 mm in this embodiment) is created between the protruded member 138-4 and the housing 139. In this case, when the drum shutter 138 is closed, since the protruded member is positioned in the vicinity of or abutted against the housing 139 of the cartridge 103, thus further preventing the photosensitive drum 131 from being exposed to the ambient light. Incidentally, the reference numeral 138-7 denotes a rotary support shaft for the photosensitive drum 131. Referring to Fig. 3, the laser beam printer 100 within which the process cartridge 103 of Figs. 1 and 2 can be mounted and which can form an image will be explained. The laser beam printer to which the present invention is applied comprises a fixing portion disposed directly about a transfer portion and is so designed that it utilizes a process cartridge incorporating various electrophotographic processes therein, thereby making the printer small-sized and reducing the increase in the temperature of the process cartridge. In Figs. 2 and 3 a laser beam L emitted from a laser unit (not shown) of a scanner unit 102 is deflected by a polygonal mirror 121 and then is focused on the photosensitive drum 131 (rotated in a direction shown by the arrow) through focusing lenses 122, 123. A charger roller 132 for uniformly charging the photosensitive member 131a is disposed at an upstream side of an exposure position for the laser beam L. An electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 131 by the laser beam L is visualized by the developing device 134 having the developing sleeve 134b to which the bias voltage is applied. On the other hand, a transfer sheet P in a sheet supply cassette 104 is supplied by a sheet supply roller 141 and is fed between the photosensitive drum 131 and a transfer roller 135. The visualized image on the photosensitive drum 131 is transferred onto the transfer sheet P by the bias voltage of the transfer roller 135. The transfer sheet P to which the image was transferred passes through between a fixing roller 152 (having a heater 141) and a pressure roller 153 of a fixing device 105, where the visualized image is permanently fixed to the transfer sheet. Thereafter, the transfer sheet P is ejected onto an ejection tray 111. Incidentally, the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 131 is removed by the cleaner 137 having the cleaning blade 136. Incidentally, the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 131, charger roller 132, developing device 134 and cleaner 137 are contained within the process cartridge 103. Further, the reference numeral 115b denotes a font mounting portion on which fonts 115a are mounted. In this way, by feeding the transfer sheet upwardly, it is possible to arrange the process elements closely, thus making the printer compact or small-sized. Next, air flows generated in forming the image by the laser beam printer 100 within which the process cartridge 103 is mounted will be explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 In this embodiment, a fan 110 disposed below an outlet 106 for the sheet P to be ejected and at an end of the printer 100. When the fan (for example, axial flow fan in this embodiment) 110 is rotated, the ambient cool air is introduced into the printer through clearances at the front unit 112, sheet supply roller 141 and the like (arrows W 1 , W 2 ). The air flows W 1 , W 2 pass through the vicinity of the transfer roller 135 (arrow W 3 ) to reach the cartridge 103. A part of this air flow passes by the lateral side of the fixing device 105 (arrow W 4 ) and then is discharged from the printer through an opening 114-1 (arrow W 6 ). Further, a part of the above-mentioned air flow passes through the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 131 and through the space S between the housing 139 of the cartridge 103 (particularl housing portion positioned near a free end portion 137-1 of the cleaner 137) and the drum shutter 138 (arrow W 5 ) and then is discharged from the printer through an opening 115-1 (arrow W 7 ). In this way, according to this embodiment, the air discharging fan 110 is disposed at ends of air flow passages 114, 115, and the air in the cartridge 103 is sucked into the printer mainly through the openings 114-1, 115-1 formed in a partition wall 116 for the air flow passaqes 114, 115 and then is discharged from the printer 100 Next, further embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 4 to 8 among which Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge 103 to which the further embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this embodiment unlike to the above-mentioned embodiments wherein the drum shutter 138 is pivotable, the drum shutter 138 can be opened and closed by being slid by a slide mechanism (not shown) such as a link mechanism in the vicinity of the surface of the photosensitive drum 131. Also in this embodiment, a protruded member 138-4 is formed on the front central portion of the drum shutter 138 or a notched portion may be formed in the rear central portion of the shutter to create the clearance, so that the advantage same as those of the previous embodiments can be obtained. Further embodiments will be explained with reference to Figs. 5 to 8. The embodiments which will be described hereinbelow show (1) an example that a shield member for preventing the entrance of air flow into predetermined areas is formed on the above-mentioned drum shutter, and (2) an example that a shield member for cooperating with the drum shutter to prevent the entrance of air flow into predetermined areas is formed on an image forming system. Incidentally, these embodiments will be described hereinbelow as examples that these are applied to the laser beam printer shown in Fig. 3. Now, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a process cartridge 203 relating to the above example (1), and Fig. 6 is a partial elevational sectional view showing the air flows in forming the image by using the laser beam printer 100 within which the process cartridge 203 was mounted. Incidentally, Figs. 7 and 8 are partial elevational sectional views showing the above example (2). In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a longitudinal rib 138-9 which extends from the surface of the drum shutter by about 5 mm is formed on a back surface the drum shutter 138 (by "backsurface" is meant a surface opposite to the photosensitive drum 131 when the shutter is closed). When the cartridge 203 is mounted within the printer 100 and the drum shutter 138 is opened, the rib 138-9 is positioned to be abutted against or substantially abutted against the air discharging opening 114-1 of the printer 100. That is to say, the rib 138-9 is positioned so that a free end of the rib is situated in the proximity of the lower partition wall 116 for the opening 114-1. Thus, an air flow W 4 including hot air and passing through the vicinity of a fixing device 105 or the interior of the fixing device is blocked by the rib 138-9 (This condition is shown by the arrow W 8 ). Accordingly, the high temperature air flow is ejected out of the printer through the opening 114-1, without flowing toward an upper surface 203-1 of the housing of the cartridge 203 (air flow W 6 ). According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain air passages same as those as mentioned above. Thus, the constructural elements in the cartridge 203 (for example, photosensitive drum 131, toner and the like) can be prevented from being exposed to the high temperature air. Further, since the cool air always flows through the vicinity and interior of the cartridge 203, it is possible to further suppress the increase in temperature of these constructural elements. Next, in an embodiment shown in Fig.7 a partition member 117 for abutting against the drum shutter 138 is secured to the lower partition wall 116 for the air discharging opening 114-1 of the printer. The partition member 117 has a width substantially the same as that of the drum shutter 138 and is slightly bent toward the drum shutter 138 so that it is apt to be abutted against the drum shutter 138. According to this embodiment, when the drum shutter 138 is rotated to reach the open position, the drum shutter is abutted against the partition member 117, thus surely directing the air flow W 4 to the opening 114-1. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the partition member 117 is made from plastics material to give it elasticity. In this case, when the partition member 117 is made from elastically deformable materials (for example, resin, rubber, foam materials or the like) or is formed to have the elasticity or flexibility, the excellent advantage can be obtained. In this way, it is possible to perform the pivotal movement of the drum shutter 138 smoothly, thus ensuring the predetermined air passages. On the other hand, in an embodiment shown in Fig. 8 the drum shutter 138 is not rotated, but is slid in the vicinity of the surface of the photosensitive drum 131. Also in this case, the rib 138-9 may be formed on the back surface (as previously defined) of the drum shutter 138 so that the rib can be abutted against the partition wall 116 for the air discharging opening 114-1 or be positioned in the proximity of the partition wall, thus obtaining the sam advantage as the above one. In this way, according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 to 8 , since the air flows including the hot air are prevented from directing to the vicinity of the cartridge, it is possible to further suppress the increase in temperature of the cartridge. Further, according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 5 and 6 since the protruded portion 138-4 is positioned in the vicinity of or abutted against the cartridge housing 139 when the drum shutter 138 is closed, the photosensitive drum 131 is prevented from being exposed to the ambient light or is hard to be damaged by foreign matters or the operator's finger. Incidentally, in the above embodiment , while an example that a heat fixing device is used as the fixing device was explained, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a pressure fixing device may be used. Further, other than the heat fixing device, although motors, exposure lamp and the like also generate the heat in the image forming system, the present invention is also effective to the generation of heat from such elements. Further, the clearance (distance) between the housing of the process cartridge and the cover can be appropriately selected in accordance with the designs of the process cartridge and the image forming system; however, such clearance may be about 2 mm - 50 mm, and preferably 3 mm - 40 mm, and most preferably 5 mm - 20 mm. If the clearance is smaller than about 2 mm, the sufficient cooling ability cannot sometimes be obtained (However, even if the clearance is about 1 mm, some cooling ability can be obtained in comparison with the case where there is no clearance); whereas, if the clearance is greater than about 50 mm, the image forming system will become large-sized. Incidentally, the above-mentioned process cartridge incorporates therein an image bearing member (for example, electrophotographic photosensitive member and the like), and at least one of a charger means, developing means and cleaning means (action means) as a unit which can removably mounted within an image forming system. More specifically, the process cartridge incorporates therein a charger means, developing means or cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as a unit which can be removably mounted within an image forming system (for example, a copying machine, laser beam printer or the like); or incorporates therein at least one of a charger means, developing means and cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as a unit which can be removably mounted within an image forming system (for example, a copying machine, laser beam printer or the like); or incorporates therein at least a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as a unit which can be removably mounted within an image forming system (for example, a copying machine, laser beam printer or the like). As mentioned above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system which can remarkably enhance the cooling ability for the process cartridge by air flows.

Claims: A process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising; (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive member (131); (ii) a cartridge frame (103a); (iii) a process means (132, 134, 136) acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; and (iv) a cover (138) shiftable between a closed protection position for protecting said electrophotographic photosensitive member and an opened retracted position retracted from the protection position, said cover assuming the protection position when said process cartridge (103, 203) is removed from the main body and assuming the retracted position when said process cartridge is mounted onto the main body, characterized in that said cover is provided with a portion (138-4) offset from the cover (138) on its side remote from the cartridge (103) when the cover (138) is in the retracted position, to create a clearance (138-5) between said cartridge frame and said offset portion (138-4) of the cover for allowing an air-flow in the main body of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted on the main body and said cover is positioned in the retracted position. A process cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover (138) is pivotally attached to the cartridge for rotation between the protection position and the retracted position, an inner surface of the cover facing toward the photosensitive member (131) when the cover (138) is in its protection position and facing away from the photosensitive member (131) when the cover (138) is in its retracted position, and the offset portion (138-4) of the cover (138) extends toward the photosensitive member (131) when the cover (138) is in its protection position and away from the photosensitive member (131) when the cover (138) is in its retracted position. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cover is pivotable around a pin means (138-1, 138-2) provided on said frame (103a), and said offset portion (138-4) is positioned in the proximity of or abutted against said frame when said cover is positioned in said protection position. A process cartridge according to claim 1 characterised in that the cover (138) is mounted to the cartridge (103) by a pivoting linkage for movement between the protection position and the retracted position while presenting an inner surface toward the cartridge (103) and an outer surface away from the cartridge, and the offset portion (138-4) of the cover (138) extends from the outer surface of the cover. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said cover is provided at its both ends with arms each having one end pivotally connected to said frame and the other end secured to said cover. A process cartridge according to any preceding claim characterised in that the cover (138) has a projection (138-9) extending from its outer surface. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said projection (138-9) blocks an air flow directing toward said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted within said image forming apparatus and said cover is positioned in said retracted position. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said projection (138-9) is provided on the rear surface along its longitudinal direction. A process cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein said cover covers a transfer area of said photosensitive member (131) when it is positioned in said protection position. A process cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein said process means includes a developing device (134). A process cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein said process means includes a cleaning device (136). An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a mounting means for mounting a process cartridge (103, 203) removably mountable onto a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising; (i) an electrophotographic photosensitive member (131); (ii) a cartridge frame (103a); (iii) a process means (132, 134, 136) acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; and (iv) a cover (138) shiftable between a closed protection position for protecting said electrophotographic photosensitive member and an opened retracted position retracted from the protection position, said cover assuming the protection position when said process cartridge is removed from the main body and assuming the retracted position when said process cartridge is mounted onto the main body, air flow generating means (110) for generating an air flow passing through between said cartridge frame (103a) and said cover (138); transfer means (135) for transferring a developed image formed on said photosensitive member (131) onto said recording medium (P); and conveying means (151, 153) for conveying said recording medium characterized in that said cover is provided with a portion (138-4) offset from the cover (138) on its side remote from the cartridge (103) when the cover (138) is in the retracted position, to create a clearance (138-5) between said cartridge frame and said offset portion (138-4) of the cover for allowing an air-flow in the main body of the image forming apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted on the main body and said cover is positioned in the retracted position. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further including cover driving means (113) for shifting said cover (138) from said protection position to said retracted position in response to the mounting movement of said process cartridge. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.

Inventors: IKEMORI IKUO, KOMATSU TERUO, SHIRAI HIROYUKI, TSUDA TADAYUKI, WATANABE KAZUSHI, IKEMORI, IKUO, KOMATSU, TERUO, SHIRAI, HIROYUKI, TSUDA, TADAYUKI, WATANABE, KAZUSHI, Ikemori, Ikuo, c/o Canon K.K., KOMATSU, TERUO, C/O CANON K.K., Shirai, Hiroyuki, c/o Canon K.K., Tsuda, Tadayuki, c/o Canon K.K., Watanabe, Kazushi, c/o Canon K.K.
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G03G21
IPC codes: G03G21