Abstract:
A photoreceptor cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the photoreceptor cartridge. The photoreceptor cartridge includes: a first assembly configured to include a first frame and a photoreceptor that is installed at the first frame; a second assembly configured to include a second frame that is detachably combined with the first frame and a cleaning unit that is installed at the second frame and cleans a surface of the photoreceptor; at least one first pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit to the photoreceptor; and at least one second pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit into an opposite direction to a direction in which the first pressing member presses the cleaning unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0159120, filed on Dec. 19, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present general inventive concept generally relates to providing a photoreceptor cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same, and more particularly, to providing a photoreceptor cartridge including two assemblies and an image forming apparatus having the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, an image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer or the like using an electro-photographic printing method, includes a photoreceptor (for example, a photoconductive drum). 
         [0006]    A toner image that reflects image data is developed on a surface of the photoreceptor and is directly or indirectly transferred onto a printing paper. After the toner image is completely transferred, toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is cleaned by a cleaning unit having a cleaning blade. 
         [0007]    The photoreceptor and the cleaning unit are formed into one assembly that is referred to as a photoreceptor cartridge, and then the photoreceptor cartridge is installed in an image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor cartridge may include a charging roller that charges the surface of the photoreceptor and a cleaning roller that cleans a surface of the charging roller. 
         [0008]    If a lifespan of the cleaning blade is ended due to wear, etc., a method of replacing only the cleaning unit from the photoreceptor cartridge may be considered. However, operations of replacing only the cleaning unit and not the photoreceptor cartridge in which a plurality of parts are assembled is very complicated, and thus a large amount of repair and/or maintenance costs may be required for such operations. 
         [0009]    Therefore, regarding conventional cartridges, if the lifespan of the cleaning blade is ended, the whole photoreceptor cartridge is replaced. In this case, the photoreceptor of which a lifespan is not ended is discarded together with the cleaning blade as well as other components of the photoreceptor cartridge. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Exemplary embodiments address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages as well as other disadvantages not described above. Also, the exemplary embodiments are not required to be limited to overcoming the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment may provide other features and utilities other than overcoming any of the problems described above. 
         [0011]    The exemplary embodiments provide a photoreceptor cartridge that easily replaces some components including a cleaning blade and an image forming apparatus having the same. 
         [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept provide a photoreceptor cartridge including: a first assembly configured to include a first frame and a photoreceptor that is installed at the first frame; a second assembly configured to include a second frame that is detachably combined with the first frame and a cleaning unit that is installed at the second frame and cleans a surface of the photoreceptor; at least one first pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit to the photoreceptor; and at least one second pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit in an opposite direction to a direction in which the first pressing member presses the cleaning unit. 
         [0013]    Pressure applied by the first pressing member may be higher than pressure applied by the second pressing unit. 
         [0014]    The first pressing member may be a coil spring that is installed at the first frame, and the second pressing member may be a torsion spring that is installed at the second frame. 
         [0015]    The second assembly may be installed at the first assembly to pivot between a first position to clean the photoreceptor and a second position to separate the second frame from the first frame. 
         [0016]    The second frame may include a waste toner housing part into which waste toner removed from the photoreceptor by the cleaning unit flows. 
         [0017]    The cleaning unit may be installed at the second frame to pivot between an open position to open the waste toner housing part and a closed position to close the waste toner housing part. 
         [0018]    The cleaning unit may be disposed in the open position when the second assembly is in the first position and may be disposed in the closed position when the second assembly is in the second position. 
         [0019]    When the second assembly is disposed in the first position, the first pressing member may press the cleaning unit into the open position, and the second pressing member may press the cleaning unit into the closed position. 
         [0020]    The second frame may include a sealing member that seals the waste toner housing part. 
         [0021]    The cleaning unit may be spaced apart from the sealing member in the open position and contact the sealing member in the closed position. 
         [0022]    The second assembly may further include: a waste toner transfer auger configured to be installed in the waste toner housing part; and a waste toner transfer pipe configured to be installed at the second frame in order to discharge waste toner transferred from the waste toner housing part by the waste toner transfer auger. 
         [0023]    The second frame may include two rotation protrusions, and the first frame may include two rotation protrusion insertion holes having rotation protrusion insertion grooves into which the rotation protrusions are inserted. 
         [0024]    The rotation protrusions may have elliptical sections, and the rotation protrusion insertion grooves may have circular sections. 
         [0025]    The cleaning unit may include: a bracket member configured to be installed at the second frame; and a cleaning blade configured to be combined with the bracket member. 
         [0026]    The first assembly may further include: a charging roller configured to be installed at the first frame and charge the photoreceptor; and a cleaning roller configured to be installed at the first frame and clean the charging roller. 
         [0027]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept also provide a photoreceptor cartridge including: a first assembly configured to include a photoreceptor; a second assembly configured to include a cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the photoreceptor and be detachably combined with the first assembly; at least one first pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit to the photoreceptor; and at least one second pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit into an opposite direction to a direction in which the first pressing member presses the cleaning unit, by using lower pressure than pressure applied by the first pressing member. 
         [0028]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept also provide an image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor cartridge, the photoreceptor cartridge including: a first assembly configured to include a first frame and a photoreceptor that is installed at the first frame; a second assembly configured to include a second frame that is detachably combined with the first assembly and a cleaning unit that is installed at the second frame and cleans a surface of the photoreceptor; at least one first pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit to the photoreceptor; and at least one second pressing unit configured to press the cleaning unit into an opposite direction to a direction in which the first pressing member presses the cleaning unit. 
         [0029]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept also provide an image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor cartridge, the photoreceptor cartridge including: a first assembly configured to include a photoreceptor; a second assembly configured to include a cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the photoreceptor and to be detachably combined with the first assembly; and at least one second pressing member configured to press the cleaning unit in an opposite direction to a direction in which a first pressing member presses the cleaning unit, by using lower pressure than pressure applied by the first pressing member. The second assembly may be installed at the first assembly to pivot between a first position for cleaning the photoreceptor through the cleaning unit and a second position for separating the second frame from the first frame. 
         [0030]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept also provide a photoreceptor cartridge, comprising: a first frame including a photoreceptor and a first pressing member; and a second frame detachably and rotatably connected to the first frame and including a cleaning unit and a second pressing member, the cleaning unit being pressed in a first direction toward the photoreceptor by the first pressing member when the second frame is rotated toward the first frame and being pressed in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the second pressing member when the second frame is rotated away from the first frame. 
         [0031]    In an exemplary embodiment, the first frame further includes a pair of rotation protrusion insertion grooves having rotation protrusion insertion holes therein to receive the second frame therein, and the second frame further includes a pair of rotation protrusions disposed at opposite sides thereof to be inserted through the respective ones of the rotation protrusion insertion grooves and into the rotation protrusion insertion holes of the first frame to attach and rotate the second frame with respect to the first frame. 
         [0032]    In an exemplary embodiment, the first pressing member is a coil spring and the second pressing member is a torsion spring providing less force than the first pressing member. 
         [0033]    In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning unit further comprises: a waste toner housing part extending the length of the second frame; a sealing member extending the length of the photoconductor to seal toner in the waste toner housing part; and a cleaning blade connected to the cleaning unit and extending approximately equal to the length of the sealing member and the photoconductor such that when the second frame is rotated away from the first frame, the cleaning blade is rotated by the second pressing member to contact the sealing member to seal waste toner within the waste toner housing part. 
         [0034]    In an exemplary embodiment, the rotation protrusion insertion grooves are disposed such that the rotation protrusions can slide into and out of the rotation protrusion insertion holes through the rotation protrusion insertion grooves when the second frame is rotated away from the first frame. 
         [0035]    In an exemplary embodiment, the first frame further includes fastener combining holes at opposite ends thereof, and the second frame further includes fastener members at opposite ends thereof to be fastened to respective ones of the fastener combining holes when the second frame is rotated toward the first frame. 
         [0036]    In an exemplary embodiment, the fastener members are screws and the fastener combining holes are screw combining holes. 
         [0037]    Exemplary embodiments of the general inventive concept also provide a photoreceptor cartridge, comprising: a first frame including a photoreceptor; a second frame detachably and rotatably connected to the first frame and including a cleaning unit, the cleaning unit being rotatable in a first direction toward the photoreceptor when the second frame is rotated toward the first frame and being rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the second frame is rotated away from the first frame; and a pressure assembly configured to press the cleaning unit to rotate in the first direction when the second frame is rotated toward the first frame and to press the cleaning unit to rotate in the second direction when the second frame is rotated away from the first frame. 
         [0038]    In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure assembly comprises a first pressing member configured as a coil spring extending from the first frame to press the cleaning unit of the second frame and a second pressing member configured as a torsion spring in the second frame and providing less force than the first pressing member 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a photoreceptor cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cartridge of  FIG. 1  taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the photoreceptor cartridge of  FIG. 1  that is divided into first and second assemblies; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second assembly of  FIG. 3  seen on the other side; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the second assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of areas S 1  and S 2  of the second assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cartridge of  FIG. 1  taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the second assembly that pivots at 90° in a clockwise direction; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of separating screws from the photoreceptor cartridge; 
           [0049]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of rotating the second assembly of the photoreceptor cartridge from a first position (a cleaning performing position) to a second position (a separable position); 
           [0051]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of separating the second assembly from the first assembly; 
           [0053]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 10A ; and 
           [0054]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0055]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. 
         [0056]    In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be carried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the exemplary embodiments with unnecessary detail. 
         [0057]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a photoreceptor cartridge  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  of  FIG. 1  that is divided into first and second assemblies  100  and  200 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second assembly  200  of  FIG. 3  seen on the other side.  FIG. 5  is a plan view of the second assembly  200  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of areas S 1  and S 2  of the second assembly  200  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the second assembly  200  that pivots at 90° in a clockwise direction. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the photoreceptor cartridge  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment is installed and used in an image forming apparatus using an electro-photographic printing method. For example, the photoreceptor cartridge  10  may be applied to a laser printer, a copier, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), or the like. 
         [0059]    The photoreceptor cartridge  10  includes the first assembly  100  and the second assembly  200 . 
         [0060]    The first assembly  100  includes a first frame  110 , a photoreceptor  120 , a charging roller  130 , and a cleaning roller  140 . 
         [0061]    The first frame  110  has a structure that is separable from an image forming apparatus, and thus the first assembly  100  may be separated from the image forming apparatus. The first frame  110  respectively supports the photoreceptor  120 , the charging roller  130 , and the cleaning roller  140  that are installed at the first frame  110 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first frame  110  has two rotation protrusion insertion holes  111  into which the second assembly  200  is removably combined. The two rotation protrusion insertion holes  111  are spaced apart from each other by a distance corresponding to a length of the second assembly  200  and face each other. Rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  are respectively formed in the rotation protrusion insertion holes  111  to provide for slidably removing and replacing the second assembly  200 . 
         [0063]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , two first pressing members  151  are installed at the first frame  110 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the first pressing members  151  are installed as coil springs. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first pressing members  151  apply first pressure P 1  to the second assembly  200  that is combined with the first assembly  100 . Functions performed by the first pressing members  151  will be described in more detail later. 
         [0064]    The photoreceptor  120  is rotatably installed in the first frame  110  and is a photoconductive drum in the present exemplary embodiment. A toner image that will be transferred onto a printing paper is formed on a surface of the photoreceptor  120  in a printing process. 
         [0065]    The charging roller  130  charges the surface of the photoreceptor  120  with a particular potential, and the cleaning roller  140  cleans a surface of the charging roller  130 . 
         [0066]    The second assembly  200  is detachably installed at the first assembly  110  to clean the surface of the photoreceptor  120  installed in the first frame  100 . In detail, the second assembly  200  scrapes remaining toner from the surface of the photoreceptor  120  to clean the surface of the photoreceptor  120 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , the second assembly  200  includes a second frame  210 , a cleaning unit  220 , a sealing member  230 , a waste toner transfer auger  240 , and a waste toner transfer pipe  250 . 
         [0068]    The second frame  210  is detachably installed on the first frame  110  of the first assembly  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second frame  210  includes two rotation protrusions  211 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the rotation protrusions  211  are respectively inserted into the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  of the rotation protrusion insertion holes  111 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , when the rotation protrusions  211  are inserted into the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a , the second assembly  200  may pivot in direction A 1  or A 2  based on the rotation protrusions  211 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  have approximately circular sections, and the rotation protrusions  211  have approximately elliptical sections. Therefore, if the second assembly  200  is disposed in a first position to clean the surface of the photoreceptor  120  as shown in  FIG. 7A , the rotation protrusions  211  are not separated from the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a . If the second assembly  200  pivots at 90° in the direction A 1  to be disposed in a second position as shown in  FIG. 7B , the rotation protrusions  211  can be separated from the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  by sliding the rotation protrusions  211  through the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  and away from the rotation protrusion insertion holes  111 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , two screw combining holes  113  into which two screws N can be combined are formed in the first frame  110 , and two screw through-holes  213  through which the screws N pass through are formed in the second frame  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7A , when the second assembly  200  is in the first position to perform a cleaning function, the first and second frames  110  and  210  are combined with each other by the two screws N combining with respective ones of the screw combining holes  113 . Therefore, the second assembly  200  may be stably kept in the first position to perform the cleaning function. If the second assembly  200  pivots in the second position in which the second assembly  200  may be separated from the first assembly  100  as shown in  FIG. 7B , the two screws N are first separated from the screw combining holes  113 . The screws N can be provided in any form of a fastening member which simply and easily fastens and releases the combining of the first frame  110  and the second frame  210  while the second assembly  200  is in the first position. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a waste toner housing part  215  is formed in the second frame  210 , has an approximately semicircular section, and extends along a longitudinal direction of the second frame  210 . When the second assembly  200  is disposed in the first position to perform the cleaning function as shown in  FIG. 2 , the waste toner housing part  215  is disposed to face the photoreceptor  120 . Therefore, waste toner that is removed from the surface of the photoreceptor  120  by the cleaning unit  220  may flow into the waste toner housing part  215 . 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the cleaning unit  220  includes a bracket member  221  that is pivotably installed at the second frame  210  and a cleaning blade  222  that is combined with a front end of the bracket member  221 . 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second frame  210  includes a pair of bracket support parts  217 . The bracket member  221  is pivotably combined with the bracket support parts  217  to pivot in forward direction B 1  (see  FIG. 2 ) or backward direction B 2  (see  FIG. 2 ). Second pressing members  217   a  that apply pressure following the forward direction B 1  are respectively installed at the bracket support parts  217 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the second pressing members  217   a  are torsion springs. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the first and second assemblies  100  and  200  are combined with each other, the bracket member  221  receives first pressure P 1  following the backward direction B 2  from the first pressing members  151  and receives second pressure P 2  following the forward direction B 1  from the second pressing members  217   a.    
         [0075]    The first pressure P 1  applied by the first pressing members  151  is set to be greater than the second pressure P 2  applied by the second pressing members  217   a . Therefore, when the second assembly  200  is in the first position to perform the cleaning function of the photoreceptor  120  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the cleaning unit  220  pivots in the backward direction B 2  by the first pressure P 1  to be disposed in a position (an open position) to open the waste toner housing part  215  in order to allow remaining toner to flow from the photoreceptor  120  into the waste toner housing part  215 . When the cleaning unit  220  is disposed in the open position as described above, the cleaning blade  222  contacts the surface of the photoreceptor  120  while creating a gap between the cleaning blade  222  and the sealing member  230 . 
         [0076]    If the second assembly  200  pivots in the direction A 1  to be disposed in the second position to separate the second assembly  200  from the first assembly  100  as shown in  FIG. 7B  or the second assembly  200  is fully separated from the first assembly  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first pressure P 1  applied by the first pressing members  151  is not applied to the cleaning unit  220 . Therefore, the cleaning unit  220  pivots in the forward direction B 1  by the second pressure P 2  to be disposed in a position (a closed position) to close the waste toner housing part  215 . When the cleaning unit  220  is disposed in the closed position as described above, the cleaning blade  222  of the cleaning unit  220  contacts the sealing member  230  such that toner cannot escape from the waste toner housing part  215 . 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sealing member  230  is installed at the second frame  210  to be parallel with the cleaning blade  222 . A length of the sealing member  230  is approximately equal to a length of the cleaning blade  222 . When the cleaning unit  220  is disposed in the closed position, the cleaning blade  222  contacts the sealing member  230  that is disposed under the cleaning blade  222  so that there exists no gap therebetween. Therefore, waste toner existing in the waste toner housing part  215  cannot flow out of the waste toner housing part  215  through a gap between the cleaning blade  222  and the sealing member  230 . 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the waste toner transfer auger  240  is rotatably installed in the waste toner housing part  215 . The waste toner transfer auger  240  transfers the waste toner, which flows into the waste toner housing part  215  from the photoreceptor  120 , into the waste toner transfer pipe  250 . The waste toner transfer pipe  250  is installed at an end of the second frame  210  to be connected to the waste toner housing part  215  in order to transfer the waste toner, which is transferred from the waste toner housing part  215 , into a waste toner container installed in an image forming apparatus. 
         [0079]    Processes of separating the first and second assemblies  100  and  200  of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  from each other will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A, and  10 B. 
         [0080]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of separating screws from the photoreceptor cartridge  10 .  FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 8A .  FIG. 9A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of pivoting the second assembly  200  of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  from a first position (a cleaning performance position) to a second position (a separable position).  FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 10A  is a perspective view illustrating a process of separating the second assembly  200  from the first assembly  100 .  FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the perspective view of  FIG. 10A . 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , screws N that combine the first and second assemblies  100  and  200  with each other are separated from the photoreceptor cartridge  10 . Here, the second assembly  200  is disposed in the first position to clean the photoreceptor  120 , and the cleaning unit  220  of the second assembly  200  is disposed in an open position to open the waste toner housing part  215  (creating a gap between the cleaning blade  222  and the sealing member  230 ) by the first pressure P 1  applied by the first pressing members  151 . Here, the cleaning blade  222  of the cleaning unit  220  keeps a contact with the surface of the photoreceptor  120 . 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the second assembly  200  pivots at about 90° in the direction A 1  to be disposed in the second position to separate the second assembly  200  from the first assembly  100 . If the second assembly  200  is moved into the second position as described with reference to  FIG. 7B , the rotation protrusions  211  of the second assembly  200  may be separated from the rotation protrusion insertion grooves  111   a  of the first assembly  100 . 
         [0083]    When the second assembly  200  is moved into the second position, the first pressure P 1  applied by the first pressing members  151  is no longer applied to the cleaning unit  220 , but the second pressure P 2  applied by the second pressing members  217   a  is applied to the cleaning unit  220 . Therefore, the cleaning unit  220  pivots in the forward direction B 1  (see  FIGS. 2 and 9B ) by the second pressure P 2 , and thus the cleaning blade  222  contacts the sealing member  230  to be disposed in the closed position to close the waste toner housing part  215 . Since the waste toner housing part  215  is closed in a process of moving the second assembly  200  into the second position, the waste toner housed in the waste toner housing part  215  may be prevented from flowing out of the waste toner housing part  215 . 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the second assembly  200  is pulled along a direction indicated by an arrow ( FIG. 10B ) to be separated from the first assembly  100 . Although the second assembly  200  is separated from the first assembly  100 , the cleaning unit  220  is kept in the closed position to close the waste toner housing part  215  by the second pressing members  217   a . Therefore, the waste toner may be prevented from flowing out of the waste toner housing part  215  in a process of transferring the separated cleaning unit  220 . 
         [0085]    If a lifespan of the photoreceptor  120  continues while a lifespan of the cleaning blade  222  is ended, the second assembly  200  may be simply separated from the first assembly  100  through the above-described separating process. Therefore, only the second assembly  200  in which the cleaning blade  222  is installed may be easily discarded. Also, a new second assembly  200  may be combined with the first assembly  100  in a reverse process of the separating process to continue to use the photoreceptor  120  for the photoreceptor&#39;s full lifespan. 
         [0086]    In the photoreceptor cartridge  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment, only the second assembly  200  in which the cleaning blade  222  is installed may be simply separated and replaced. Therefore, although the lifespan of the cleaning blade  222  is ended, the whole photoreceptor cartridge  10  is not required to be discarded, and thus a usage of the full lifespan of the photoreceptor  120  can be guaranteed. Also, the second assembly  200  may be simply separated from the first assembly  100  in the above-described three-level process, and thus may be replaced at a relatively low service cost. 
         [0087]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating an image forming apparatus  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the image forming apparatus  1  may be a laser printer. However, the image forming apparatus  1  is not limited to the laser printer and may be equally applied to other types of image forming apparatuses such as a copier, a fax machine, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), etc. 
         [0089]    The image forming apparatus  1  includes a main body  2  and a paper feeding unit  3  that is detachably combined with a lower end of the main body  2 . A plurality of printing papers on which printing will be performed are housed in the paper feeding unit  3 , and printing is performed on the printing papers, which are picked up from the paper feeding unit  3 , in the main body  2 . 
         [0090]    The main body  2  of the image forming apparatus  1  includes the photoreceptor cartridge  10 , an exposing unit  20 , a developing cartridge  30 , a transfer unit  40 , and a fixing unit  50 . 
         [0091]    In a printing process, an electrostatic latent image that reflects printing data is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor  120  of the photoreceptor cartridge  10  by a laser beam irradiated from the exposing unit  20 . The electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by a developing roller  32  of the developing cartridge  30 . 
         [0092]    When a printing paper passes through a nip formed between the photoreceptor  120  and the transfer unit  40 , the toner image formed on the photoreceptor  120  is transferred onto a printing paper. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the transfer unit  40  is installed as a transfer roller. The fixing unit  50  includes a pressing roller  51  and a pressing roller  52  to fix the toner image, which is transferred on the printing paper, through heat and pressure. 
         [0093]    The photoreceptor cartridge  10  including the first and second assemblies  100  and  200  is used as the photoreceptor cartridge  10  of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
         [0094]    Therefore, if the lifespan of the cleaning blade  222  is ended as described above, the second assembly  200  in which the cleaning blade  22  is installed may be simply replaced without discarding the whole photoreceptor cartridge  10 . Therefore, use of the full lifespan of the photoreceptor  120  may be guaranteed. Also, the second assembly  200  may be simply separated from the first assembly  100  through the above-described three-level process, and thus may be replaced at a relatively low service cost. 
         [0095]    The foregoing exemplary embodiments and utilities of the general inventive concept are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.