Patent Abstract:
A method for controlling a distance between a photosensitive member and a developing member in an integral or separated toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is provided with an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the developing member or to the photosensitive member, so as to force the developing member to move towards the photosensitive member, or to force the photosensitive member to move towards the developing member. A production accuracy requirement of the toner cartridge is reduced by the elasticity of the elastic member. Also a device for controlling a distance between a photosensitive member and a developing member in a toner cartridge. By using the method and the device thereof, the requirement of the manufacturing accuracy of a toner cartridge can be reduced, and the negative impact of the accuracy bias caused by abrasion can be reduced, so, the product cost is saved, and the service life of the product is increased.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention involves an electrophotographic image forming device, and especially involves a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device. 
     2. Description of the Related Arts 
     The conventional invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming device, such as a laser printer, a copier or a facsimile machine, in which a toner cartridge is used, which is removable from or mountable to the electrophotographic image forming device. 
     Conventional toner cartridge comprises integral toner cartridges and separated toner cartridges. An integral toner cartridge or process cartridge is at least provided with a photosensitive member, a developing member, and a developer; a separated toner cartridge is at least provided with a developing member and a developer, and the drum unit used together with the separated toner cartridge is at least provided with a photosensitive member. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a process cartridge in conventional art, which adopts contact developing mode. The process cartridge comprises a main part  10 , a first lateral plate  11 , and a second lateral plate  12 ; the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  are separately fixed at the two ends of the main part  10 ; the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  are removable from or mountable to the two ends of the main part  10 , or form as one body with the main part  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the direction A-A in  FIG. 1 ; as shown in the figure, the main part  10  of the process cartridge is at least provided with the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , the first embodiment of developing member  14 , a toner feeding component  15 , and a developer (not shown in the figure). After the process cartridge is mounted to an electrophotographic image forming device, the electrophotographic image forming device receives the data from the outside; the laser scanning component of the electrophotographic image forming device scans the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  of the process cartridge, so as to make an electrostatic latent image to be formed on the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 ; the toner feeding component  15  receives the power and electric voltage from the electrophotographic image forming device, and feeds the developer stored in the process cartridge to the first embodiment of developing member  14 ; with the power and electric voltage provided by the electrophotographic image forming device, the developer is adsorbed to the surface of the first embodiment of developing member  14 ; by contacting the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  closely, the first embodiment of developing member  14  transports the developer to the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , and makes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member developed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  are respectively provided with the photosensitive member fixing positions  23   a ,  23   b , the developing member fixing positions  24   a ,  24   b , and the process feeding component fixing positions  25   a ,  25   b.    
     The first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , the first embodiment of developing member  14 , and the toner feeding component  15  are respectively fixed to the process cartridge via the photosensitive member fixing positions  23   a ,  23   b , the developing member fixing positions  24   a ,  24   b , and the toner feeding component fixing positions  25   a ,  25   b  on the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12 . For the distances between the photosensitive member fixing positions  23   a ,  23   b , the developing member fixing positions  24   a ,  24   b , and the toner feeding component fixing positions  25   a ,  25   b  have been determined when the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  are made, the center distances between the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , the first embodiment of developing member  14 , and the toner feeding component  15  have been set as fixed values. The manufacturing accuracy of the fixing positions ( 23   a ,  23   b ,  24   a ,  24   b ,  25   a ,  25   b ) for positioning the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the first embodiment of developing member  14  on the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  directly affects the working quality of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the first embodiment of developing member  14 , therefore affect the working quality of the electrophotographic image forming device; any small error that occurs to manufacture the fixing positions for positioning the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the first embodiment of developing member  14  on the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12 , will all affect the working quality of the process cartridge, and serious error will even cause that the process cartridge can not operate properly. So, the requirement to the manufacturing accuracy of the first lateral plate  11  and the second lateral plate  12  will be very high. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of another kind of process cartridge in conventional art, which adopts non-contact developing mode.  FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the direction B-B in  FIG. 5 ;  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are respectively schematic diagrams of the two ends of the process cartridge. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the process cartridge comprises a main part  30 , a first lateral plate  31 , and a second lateral plate  32 ; the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32  are respectively mounted at the two ends of the main part  30 ; the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32  are removable from or mountable to the two ends of the main part  30 , or form as one body with the main part  30 . 
     The main part  30  of the process cartridge is at least provided with the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 , the second embodiment of developing member  34 , and a developer (not shown in the figure). The working principle of the process cartridge is the same with the working principle of the process cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 . Specially, the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  is one of the organic photosensitive drums; the second embodiment of developing member  34  is one of the magnetic rollers, and the magnetic roller is composed of a magnetic core and a magnetic sleeve; the developer is a kind of magnetic toner. 
     The first lateral plate  31  is provided with a photosensitive member fixing position  43   a  and a developing member fixing position; the second lateral plate  32  is provided with a photosensitive member fixing position  43   b  and a developing member fixing position  44   b.    
     The second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  of the process cartridge are respectively fixed to the process cartridge via the photosensitive member fixing positions  43   a ,  43   b  and the developing member fixing position  44   b  on the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32 . To make an electrophotographic image forming device work well during the working process, the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  of the process cartridge are required to keep the clearance between them for a certain magnitude, and the magnitude of the clearance is a constant value; so, the distance between the photosensitive member fixing positions  43   a ,  43   b  and the developing member fixing position  44   b  on the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32  is required to be a constant value, and it is required to be changeless during the working process. So, the manufacturing accuracy of the fixing positions ( 43   a ,  43   b ,  44   b ) on the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32  directly affects the magnitude of the clearance between the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  of the process cartridge, and also affects the working quality of the process cartridge. The errors that occur during manufacturing the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32 , will affect the working quality of the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming device; so, the requirement of the manufacturing accuracy of the first lateral plate  31  and the second lateral plate  32  is very high. 
     As known above mentioned two conventional techniques, the requirement of the manufacturing accuracy of the first lateral plate  11  or  31  and the second lateral plate  12  or  32  of the process cartridge is very high, and any small error that occurs as manufacturing will cause that the process cartridge can not operate properly. The high accuracy requirement of the first lateral plate  11  or  31  and the second lateral plate  12  or  32  of the process cartridge causes that the product is hard to be manufactured, and the production cost is accordingly increased. At the same time, because after the fixing positions ( 23   a ,  23   b ,  24   a ,  24   b , or  43   a ,  43   b ,  44   b ) of the first lateral plate  11  or  31  and the second lateral plate  12  or  32  are rubbed out by the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  or  33  and the first embodiment of developing member  14  or  34  for a long time, they can&#39;t not meet the using requirement; it is hard to ensure the electrophotographic image forming device to operate properly, and the service life of the process cartridge is decreased. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides the following methods and devices for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member of a process cartridge, so as to solve the problems that: when the photosensitive member and the developing member of conventional process cartridges are rubbed out for a long time, they can&#39;t not meet the using requirement; it is hard to ensure the electrophotographic image forming device to operate properly, and the service life of the process cartridge is decreased. 
     To solve above mentioned problems, the present invention provides the following solutions. 
     A method for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a process cartridge, wherein an elastic member providing an elastic force to the developing member is mounted in the process cartridge, so as to force the developing member to move towards the photosensitive member; the elastic member is mounted on a main part, a first lateral plate, or a second lateral plate of the process cartridge, and the developing member is movable relative to the main part of the process cartridge. 
     Another method for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a process cartridge, wherein an elastic member providing an elastic force to the photosensitive member is mounted in the process cartridge, so as to force the photosensitive member to move towards the developing member; the elastic member is mounted on a main part, a first lateral plate, or a second lateral plate of the process cartridge, and the photosensitive member is movable relative to the main part; the elastic member is mounted on the main part to provide the elastic force via a photosensitive member frame. 
     A first device for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a process cartridge, comprises a main part, a photosensitive member, and a developing member, wherein it also comprises an elastic member providing an elastic force to the developing member, so as to force the developing member to move towards the photosensitive member; it also comprises a main part, a first lateral plate, and a second lateral plate; the first and the second lateral plates are located at the two sides of the main part to support the developing member, and the developing member is movable relative to the main part; the elastic member is mounted on the main part, the first lateral plate, or the second lateral plate. 
     A second device for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a process cartridge, comprises a photosensitive member and a developing member, wherein it also comprises an elastic member providing an elastic force to the photosensitive member, so as to force the photosensitive member to move towards the developing member. It also comprises a main part, a first lateral plate, and a second lateral plate; the first and the second lateral plates are located at the two sides of the main part to support the photosensitive member, and the photosensitive member is movable relative to the main part; the elastic member is mounted on the main part, the first lateral plate, or the second lateral plate. It also comprises a photosensitive member frame; the photosensitive member frame is used to support the photosensitive member; the photosensitive member frame is movable relative to the main part; the elastic member provides the elastic force to the photosensitive member via the photosensitive member frame. 
     A third device for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a toner cartridge, comprises a separated toner cartridge being used together with a drum unit; the separated toner cartridge includes a separated main part of the separated toner cartridge, a first side of the separated toner cartridge, a second side of the separated toner cartridge, and a developing member; the developing member is supported on the first side and the second side of the separated toner cartridge; wherein the separated toner cartridge is provided with an elastic member, and the elastic member is used to provide an elastic force to the developing member, so as to force the developing member to move towards a photosensitive member of the drum unit. The developing member is movable relative to the separated main part; the elastic member is mounted on the main part, the first side, or the second side. 
     A fourth device for controlling the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member in a toner cartridge, comprises a drum unit being used together with a separated toner cartridge; the drum unit includes a drum unit main part, a first side of the drum unit, a second side of the drum unit, and a photosensitive member; the photosensitive member is supported on the first side and the second side of the drum unit; wherein the drum unit is provided with an elastic member, and the elastic member is used to provide an elastic force to the photosensitive member, so as to force the photosensitive member to move towards a developing member of the separated toner cartridge. The photosensitive member is movable relative to the drum unit main part; the elastic member is mounted on the main part, the first side, or the second side. It also comprises a photosensitive member frame; the photosensitive member frame is used to support the photosensitive member; the photosensitive member frame is movable relative to the drum unit main part; the elastic member provides the elastic force to the photosensitive member via the photosensitive member frame. 
     After adopting the above mentioned technical solutions, for the toner cartridge is separately provided with an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the developing member or to the photosensitive member, so as to force the developing member to move towards the photosensitive member, or to force the photosensitive member to move towards the developing member; the distance between the photosensitive member and the developing member is adjusted via the elastic force provided by the elastic member, so, the production accuracy requirement and the production cost of the toner cartridge are all reduced greatly, and the technical problems that are hard to overcome in batch production are solved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an integral toner cartridge or process cartridge in conventional art; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the direction A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are respectively the left view and the right view of the integral toner cartridge in conventional art shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of another kind of process cartridge in conventional art; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the direction B-B in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are respectively the left view and the right view of another kind of process cartridge in conventional art shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are the left view and the right view of the process cartridge of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the direction C-C in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the direction D-D in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are the left view and the right view of the process cartridge of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a separated toner cartridge and a drum unit of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a left view of the separated toner cartridge and the drum unit of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the separated toner cartridge of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the direction E-E in  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are the left view and the right view of the separated toner cartridge of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of the drum unit of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a sectional view of the direction F-F in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  are separately the left view and the right view of a drum unit of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  is a left view of a toner cartridge of the fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a toner cartridge of the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a toner cartridge of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiment 1 
     In the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, the structure of the process cartridge is the same with the structure of the process cartridge as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the process cartridge comprises a main part  10 , a first lateral plate  110 , and a second lateral plate  120 ; the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120  are both mounted on the main part  10 . The main part  10  comprises a first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , a first embodiment of developing member  14 , a toner feeding component  15 , and a developer (not shown in the figure); the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , the first embodiment of developing member  14 , and the toner feeding component  15  are all located between the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120 . As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120  are respectively provided with photosensitive member fixing positions  230   a ,  230   b , a first supporting component  240   a , a second supporting component  240   b , a first elastic member  260   a , a second elastic member  260   b , and toner feeding component fixing positions  250   a ,  250   b.    
     The relative positions of the photosensitive member fixing positions  230   a ,  230   b  and the toner feeding component fixing positions  250   a ,  250   b  keep unchanged all along during the working process of the electrophotographic image forming device. The first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  is fixed to the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120  via the photosensitive member fixing positions  230   a ,  230   b  on the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120 ; the toner feeding component  15  is fixed to the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120  via the toner feeding component fixing positions  250   a ,  250   b . So, the positions of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the toner feeding component  15  keep unchanged all along relative to the main part  10 . 
     The first embodiment of developing member  14  is supported on the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120  respectively by the first supporting component  240   a  and the second supporting component  240   b  on the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120 ; the first supporting component  240   a  and the second supporting component  240   b  can slide freely on the first lateral plate  110  and the second lateral plate  120 ; the first elastic member  260   a  and the second elastic member  260   b  respectively apply elastic forces to the first supporting component  240   a  and the second supporting component  240   b , and the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the axis of the first embodiment of developing member  14 , pointing to the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 . The first embodiment of developing member  14  can slide relative to the main part  10  along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the axis of the first embodiment of developing member  14 . 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the direction C-C in  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the direction D-D in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first supporting component  240   a  and the first elastic member  260   a  are located at the positions away from the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  relative to the first embodiment of developing member  14  first embodiment of developing member  14 ; the first supporting component  240   a  supports the first embodiment of developing member  14 ; the first elastic member  260   a  applies an elastic force to the first supporting component  240   a  to make that the first embodiment of developing member  14  can move along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the axis of the first embodiment of developing member  14 , so as to move towards the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  relative to the main part  10 ; the elastic force makes the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  to closely contact the first embodiment of developing member  14 , and adjusts the magnitude of interference between the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the first embodiment of developing member  14 . 
     In the same way, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the second supporting component  240   b  and the second elastic member  260   b  are located at the positions away from the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  relative to the first embodiment of developing member  14 ; an elastic force is applied to the first embodiment of developing member  14  to make the first embodiment of developing member  14  move towards the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , so as to make the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  to closely contact the first embodiment of developing member  14 ; and the elastic force adjusts the magnitude of interference between the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the first embodiment of developing member  14 . 
     In particular, the first elastic member  260   a  and the second elastic member  260   b  are one kind of compression springs, and the elastic force is an elastic thrust. 
     Selectively, the first elastic member  260   a , the second elastic member  260   b , the first supporting component  240   a , and the second supporting component  240   b  can also be located at the two sides of the main part  10 , so as to support the first embodiment of developing member  14  and apply an elastic force to it. 
     Selectively, the first elastic member  260   a , the second elastic member  260   b , the first supporting component  240   a , and the second supporting component  240   b  can also be located between the first embodiment of developing member  14  and the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 ; the first elastic member  260   a  and the second elastic member  260   b  are one kind of elastic extension springs; the first elastic member  260   a  and the second elastic member  260   b  apply elastic forces to the first embodiment of developing member  14  via the first supporting component  240   a  and the second supporting component  240   b , and the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13  and the axis of the first embodiment of developing member  14 , pointing to the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 , so as to make the first embodiment of developing member  14  to move towards the first embodiment of photosensitive member  13 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     In the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, the structure of the process cartridge is the same with the structure of the process cartridge as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , the process cartridge comprises a main part  30 , a first lateral plate  111 , and a second lateral plate  121 ; the first lateral plate  111  and the second lateral plate  121  are both mounted on the main part  30 . The main part  30  comprises a second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 , the second embodiment of developing member  34 , and a developer (not shown in the figure); the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  are located between the first lateral plate  111  and the second lateral plate  121 . The first lateral plate  111  is provided with a first elastic member  261   a , a first supporting component  231   a , and a developing member fixing position (not shown in the figure); the second lateral plate  121  is provided with a second elastic member  261   b , a second supporting component  231   b , and a developing member fixing position (not shown in the figure). The two ends of the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  are respectively supported by the first supporting component  231   a  and the second supporting component  231   b ; the first supporting component  231   a  and the second supporting component  231   b  can slide freely on the first lateral plate  111  and the second lateral plate  121 ; the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  can slide freely relative to the main part  30 ; the two ends of the second embodiment of developing member  34  are respectively fixed on the developing member fixing positions  241   a ,  241   b , and the second embodiment of developing member  34  can not move freely relative to the main part  30 . 
     As shown in the figures, the first elastic member  261   a  and the second elastic member  261   b  are respectively located at the positions away from the second embodiment of developing member  34  relative to the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 ; elastic forces are respectively applied to the two ends of the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  via the first supporting component  231   a  and the second supporting component  231   b ; the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the axis of the second embodiment of developing member  34 , pointing to the second embodiment of developing member  34 ; the elastic forces make the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  to move towards the second embodiment of developing member  34  relative to the main part  30 ; the elastic forces make the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  to keep a certain clearance magnitude, and the clearance magnitude between the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  is adjusted by the elastic forces. 
     In particular, the first elastic member  261   a  and the second elastic member  261   b  are one kind of compression springs, and the elastic force is an elastic thrust. 
     Selectively, the first elastic member  261   a , the second elastic member  261   b , the first supporting component  241   a , and the second supporting component  241   b  can also be located at the two sides of the main part  30 , so as to support the second embodiment of developing member  34  and apply an elastic force to it. 
     Selectively, the first elastic member  261   a , the second elastic member  261   b , the first supporting component  241   a , and the second supporting component  241   b  can also be located between the second embodiment of developing member  34  and the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 ; the first elastic member  261   a  and the second elastic member  261   b  are one kind of elastic extension springs; the first elastic member  261   a  and the second elastic member  261   b  apply elastic forces to the second embodiment of developing member  34  via the first supporting component  241   a  and the second supporting component  241   b , and the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the axis of the second embodiment of developing member  34 , pointing to the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 , so as to make the second embodiment of developing member  34  to move towards the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 . 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a separated toner cartridge and a drum unit used together with the separated toner cartridge, and the separated toner cartridge and the drum unit adopt contact developing mode. The separated toner cartridge comprises a separated main part  300 , a first side  310  and a second side  320  of the separated toner cartridge; the drum unit comprises a drum unit main part  500 , a first side  510  and a second side  520  of the drum unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the first side  310  and the second side  320  of the separated toner cartridge are respectively located at the two ends of the toner cartridge, and form as one body with the separated main part  300 ; as shown in  FIG. 21 , the first side  510  and the second side  520  of the of the drum unit are located at the two ends of the main part  500  of the drum unit, and form as one body with the main part  500  of the drum unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 18 , and  FIG. 22 , the main part  500  of the drum unit contains a third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 ; the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  is located between the first side  510  and the second side  520  of the drum unit, which is fixed and not movable; the main part  300  of the separated toner cartridge contains a third embodiment of developing member  54 , a toner feeding component  55 , and a developer (not shown in the figure); the third embodiment of developing member  54  and the toner feeding component  55  are located between the first side  310  and the second side  320  of the separated toner cartridge. 
     As shown in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , in the present embodiment, the first side  310  of the separated toner cartridge is provided with a developing member supporting hole  440   a , a toner feeding component supporting hole  450   a , and a first elastic member  460   a ; the second side  320  of the separated toner cartridge is provided with a developing member supporting hole  440   b , a toner feeding component supporting hole  450   b , and a second elastic member  460   b . The first elastic member  460   a  and the second elastic member  460   b  are located on the developing member supporting holes  440   a ,  440   b , and support the two ends of the third embodiment of developing member  54 ; in the present embodiment, the first and the second elastic members  460   a ,  460   b  are made of elastic rubber materials, and can also be springs; the third embodiment of developing member  54  can slide on the developing member supporting holes  440   a ,  440   b  relative to the separated main part  300 . The two ends of the toner feeding component  55  are supported by the toner feeding component supporting holes  450   a ,  450   b ; the toner feeding component  55  is fixed at the first side  310  and the second side  320  via the toner feeding component supporting holes  450   a ,  450   b , which can not move freely relative to the separated main part  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , after the separated toner cartridge is mounted on the drum unit, the main part  300  of the separated toner cartridge is fixed to the main part  500  of the drum unit, which can not move freely; the first side  310  of the separated toner cartridge is located on the same side with the first side  510  of the drum unit, and the second side  320  of the separated toner cartridge is located on the same side with the second side  520  of the drum unit. The separated toner cartridge can not move freely when it is mounted on the drum unit, and the separated toner cartridge and the drum unit adopt contact developing mode, so, the third embodiment of developing member  54  and the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  have interference fit between them; the third embodiment of developing member  54  can slide freely above the developing member supporting holes  440   a ,  440   b , and the photosensitive member can not freely move, so, the third embodiment of developing member  54  has the trend to move away from the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 . At this moment, the first elastic member  460   a  and the second elastic member  460   b  apply elastic forces to the third embodiment of developing member  54 , and the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the axis of the third embodiment of developing member  54 , pointing to the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 ; the elastic forces prevent the third embodiment of developing member  54  from moving away from the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 , so as to keep the interference fit between the third embodiment of developing member  54  and the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 , and the magnitude of interference between the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the third embodiment of developing member  54  is adjusted by controlling the magnitude of the elastic forces. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The structure adopted in the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, is the same with the structure as shown in Embodiment 5. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24 , the first side  510  of the drum unit is provided with a photosensitive member supporting hole  430   a  and a first elastic member  461   a ; the second side  520  of the drum unit is provided with a photosensitive member supporting hole  430   b  and a second elastic member  461   b ; the two ends of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  are respectively located on the photosensitive member supporting holes  430   a ,  430   b , and are supported by the first and the second elastic members  461   a ,  461   b ; the two ends of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  can freely slide on the photosensitive member supporting holes  430   a ,  430   b , and the first and the second elastic members  461   a ,  461   b  limit the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  to slide freely. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , when the separated toner cartridge is mounted on the drum unit, the separated toner cartridge is fixed relative to the drum unit, and can not move freely; the third embodiment of developing member  54  of the separated toner cartridge and the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  of the drum unit have interference fit between them; for the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  can slide freely, the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  has the trend to move away from the third embodiment of developing member  54 ; the first and the second elastic members  461   a ,  461   b  support the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 , and provide elastic forces to the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 ; the direction of the elastic forces is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the axis of the third embodiment of developing member  54 , pointing to the third embodiment of developing member  54 ; the elastic forces prevent the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  from moving away, so as to keep the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  closely contacting with the third embodiment of developing member  54 ; the magnitude of interference between the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the third embodiment of developing member  54  is adjusted by controlling the magnitude of the elastic forces. The first and the second elastic members  461   a ,  461   b  are one kind of elastic rubbers or springs. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The structure adopted in the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, is the same with the structure as shown in Embodiment 3. 
     As shown in  FIG. 25 , the first side  510  of the drum unit is provided with a photosensitive member supporting hole  431   a ; the first side  310  of the separated toner cartridge is provided with a developing member supporting hole  441   a ; a first elastic member  462   a  is located between the photosensitive member supporting hole  431   a  and the developing member supporting hole  441   a . One end of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  is located on the photosensitive member supporting hole  431   a , and one end of the third embodiment of developing member  54  is located on the developing member supporting hole  441   a ; the first elastic member  462   a  applies an elastic force to the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  via the photosensitive member supporting hole  431   a , and the direction of the elastic force is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the axis of the third embodiment of developing member  54 , pointing to the third embodiment of developing member  54 ; the first elastic member  462   a  applies an elastic force to the third embodiment of developing member  54  via the developing member supporting hole  441   a , and the direction of the elastic force is along the direction of the connection line of the axis of the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the axis of the third embodiment of developing member  54 , pointing to the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 ; the elastic forces make the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  to closely contact with the third embodiment of developing member  54 . 
     In the same way, the second side  320  of the of the separated toner cartridge and the second side  520  of the drum unit are correspondingly provided with a photosensitive member supporting hole, a developing member supporting hole, and a second elastic member. The first and the second elastic members are one kind of elastic rubbers or springs. 
     Selectively, in the present embodiment, one end of the first and the second elastic members is fixed to the drum unit, and the other end is separately connected to one end of the developing member; the separated toner cartridge is fixed to the main part of the drum unit, and is immovable relative to the drum unit; the photosensitive member is fixed to the drum unit; the developing member can move relative to the main part of the separated toner cartridge; when the separated toner cartridge is mounted on the drum unit, the developing member moves towards the photosensitive member by the action of the elastic forces provided by the first and the second elastic members. 
     Selectively, in the present embodiment, one end of the of the first and the second elastic members is fixed to the separated toner cartridge, and the other end is separately connected to one end of the photosensitive member; the separated toner cartridge is fixed to the main part of the drum unit, and is immovable relative to the drum unit; the developing member is fixed to the separated toner cartridge to be immovable, and the photosensitive member can freely slide in the drum unit; the photosensitive member moves towards the developing member by the action of the elastic forces provided by the first and the second elastic members. 
     Embodiment 6 
     The structure of the process cartridge adopted in the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, is the same with the structure as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 26 , the process cartridge comprises a main part  30 , a second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 , and the second embodiment of developing member  34 ; the process cartridge also comprises a photosensitive member frame  30   a  and an elastic member  264 . 
     The photosensitive member frame  30   a  is at least provided with the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33 , and it can also be provided with other components, such as a charge member for charging the photosensitive member, and a cleaning component for cleaning the photosensitive member. The photosensitive member frame  30   a  is located in the main part  30 , and can move relative to the main part  30 ; the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  is fixed to the photosensitive member frame  30   a , so, the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  can move relative to the main part  30 . The elastic member  264  is located between the main part  30  and the photosensitive member frame  30   a , to provide an elastic force to the photosensitive member frame  30   a ; so, the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  is made capable of moving relative to the main part  30  together with the photosensitive member frame  30   a . The second embodiment of developing member  34  is located at the main part  30 , and can not move relative to the main part  30 ; so, by the action of the elastic force provided by the elastic member  264 , the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  moves relative to the second embodiment of developing member  34  together with the photosensitive member frame  30   a , and the distance between the second embodiment of photosensitive member  33  and the second embodiment of developing member  34  is adjusted by elasticity. 
     Embodiment 7 
     The structure of the toner cartridge adopted in the present embodiment, except for the special explanation, is the same with the structure of the toner cartridge as shown in Embodiment 3. 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , the drum unit comprises a main part  500  of the drum unit, and a third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 ; it also comprises a photosensitive member frame  500   a  and an elastic member  463 . 
     The photosensitive member frame  500   a  is at least provided with the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53 , and also can be provided with other components, such as a transfer member, and a charge member for charging the photosensitive member. The third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  is fixed to the photosensitive member frame  500   a ; the photosensitive member frame  500   a  is located in the main part  500 , and can be movable in the main part  500 ; so, the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  fixed to the photosensitive member frame  500   a  can move relative to the main part  500 . An elastic member  463  is provided between the photosensitive member frame  500   a  and the main part  500 . 
     When the separated toner cartridge provided with a developing member is mounted on the drum unit, the elastic member  463  is pressed, and provides an elastic force to the photosensitive member frame  500   a ; so, the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  is made to move towards the developing member, and the distance between the third embodiment of photosensitive member  53  and the developing member is adjusted by elasticity. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail with above said embodiments, but it is not to limit the scope of the invention. So, all the modifications and changes according to the characteristic and spirit of the present invention, are involved in the protected scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6