CN112684686B

CN112684686B - Cartridge, member constituting the cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN112684686B
Application number: CN202011440485.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 佐藤昌明; 久保行生; 宗次广幸; 和田晃治
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2014-11-28
Filing date: 2015-11-27
Publication date: 2024-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-27
Also published as: RU2727337C1; CN112684686A; GB2586417A; CN112684687B; RU2018126309A3; CN107111269B; BR112017011150B1; TWI662384B; TW201736990A; GB202017150D0; CL2017001330A1; ES2812102T3; TW202134804A; TW201907248A; RS60879B1; CN112684687A; CN110673455A; HUE051729T2; RU2018126309A; JP6786575B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge, a member constituting the cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. A cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame for supporting the developing roller; a movable portion movably supported with respect to the frame and movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the frame; and an elastic portion provided between the frame and the movable portion and biasing the movable portion. The movable part is provided with: a first force receiving portion that receives a force from the apparatus main body in a direction from the first position toward the second position; and a second force receiving portion that receives a force from the apparatus main body in a direction from the second position toward the first position. When the movable portion is at the second position and the first force receiving portion receives a force from the device body, the elastic portion biases the movable portion to move from the second position toward the first position.

Description

Cartridge, member constituting the cartridge, and image forming apparatus

The present application is a divisional application of PCT application entitled "cartridge, members constituting the cartridge, and image forming apparatus", application date 2015, 11-27, international application No. PCT/JP2015/083463, national application No. 201580073447.4.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a cartridge detachably mounted on an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and a member constituting the cartridge.

The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an electronic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (e.g., a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

The cartridge is at least one of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) as an image bearing member and a process unit (for example, a developer bearing member (hereinafter referred to as a developing roller)) acting on the photosensitive drum, which have been formed into the cartridge. Such a cartridge is detachably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a cartridge in which the photosensitive drum and the developing roller have been integrally formed, and a cartridge in which the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are formed in separate cartridges. In particular, the aforementioned cartridge having the photosensitive drum and the developing roller is referred to as a process cartridge. Further, in the arrangement described later, the cartridge having the photosensitive drum is referred to as a drum cartridge, and the cartridge having the developing roller is referred to as a developing cartridge.

The image forming apparatus main body is an image forming apparatus portion remaining after the cartridge is removed.

Background

Conventionally, a cartridge system in which a process cartridge, a drum cartridge, and a developing cartridge are detachably mounted to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus has been adopted in the image forming apparatus. The system of these cartridges enables the user himself to repair the image forming apparatus without having to rely on a serviceman, which greatly improves operability.

Therefore, the cartridge system is widely used in the image forming apparatus.

Further, there is a contact type developing system in which a photosensitive drum and a developing roller are contacted to perform development at the time of forming an image. A developing cartridge has been proposed which has a pressing unit in the developing cartridge for bringing a photosensitive drum and a developing roller into contact (for example, japanese patent laid-open No. 2011-39564 and japanese patent laid-open No. 2010-26541).

Now, the photosensitive drum and the developing roller in the contact developing system are preferably spaced apart in the absence of image formation from the viewpoints of image quality stability and service lives of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller.

List of references

Patent literature

PTL 1 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2011-39564

PTL 2 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2010-26541

In japanese patent laid-open No. 2011-39564 and japanese patent laid-open No. 2010-26541, the pressing unit is a configuration that is operated from the apparatus main body only in the direction in which the photosensitive drum and the developing roller come close. In the case of spacing the photosensitive drum and the developing roller from each other, it is necessary to provide a spacing unit at a position different from the pressing unit to move the developing roller so that the photosensitive drum and the developing unit are spaced from each other. The developing unit is moved at this time against the pressing pressure of pressing the developing roller against the photosensitive drum.

Also, in japanese patent laid-open No. 2010-26541, there is provided a configuration in which a pressing unit is integrated along the axial direction of the developing roller. At this time, the pressing unit must have high accuracy and high rigidity so that the pressed state between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller is uniform along the axial direction of the developing roller. That is, the pressing unit becomes more complicated so that the developing roller moves with respect to the photosensitive drum and presses against the photosensitive drum with high accuracy.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to enable a developer carrying member to be moved in an accurate manner.

Solution to the problem

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a cartridge mountable to a device main assembly of an image forming device, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable portion that is movably supported by the frame and is movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the frame; and an elastic portion provided between the frame and the movable portion to press the movable portion, wherein the movable portion includes a first force receiving portion that receives a force from the apparatus main assembly in a direction moving from the first position to the second position; and a second force receiving portion that receives a force from the apparatus main assembly in a direction from the second position to the first position, and wherein when the movable portion receives the force from the apparatus main assembly at the first force receiving portion and is in the second position, the movable portion receives a pressing force from the elastic portion in a direction to move the movable portion from the second position to the first position.

According to the present invention, the developer carrying member can be made to move in an accurate manner.

Drawings

FIG. 1 includes a side view of a developer cartridge;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an imaging device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a developer cartridge and drum cartridge;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a driving side of the developing cartridge;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a non-driving side of the developing cartridge;

Fig. 6 includes an exploded perspective view of a driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 7 includes an exploded perspective view of a non-driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 8 includes a perspective view of a drive input portion of the developing cartridge;

fig. 9 includes an explanatory diagram of the periphery of the driving-side cover;

fig. 10 includes an explanatory diagram of the periphery of the driving-side cover;

FIG. 11 includes an illustration of a posture of the coupling member;

FIG. 12 includes an illustration of a posture of the coupling member;

FIG. 13 includes an exploded perspective view of the carrier member and the coupling member;

fig. 14 includes a perspective view of a drive input portion of the developing cartridge;

FIG. 15 includes a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of the periphery of the coupling member;

FIG. 16 includes a perspective view of a drum cartridge;

fig. 17 is a perspective view of the non-drive side of the apparatus body and cartridge;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the drive side of the apparatus main body and the cartridge;

fig. 19 includes a side view at a driving side of the developing cartridge;

FIG. 20 includes a perspective view of a drive side swing guide;

fig. 21 includes a side view of the driving side, which shows a process of mounting the developing cartridge to the apparatus main body;

Fig. 22 includes a side view of a drive side of the developing cartridge mounted to the apparatus main body;

fig. 23 includes a sectional view of a drive input portion of the developing cartridge;

fig. 24 is a front view of the developing cartridge;

FIG. 25 includes a perspective view of a drive side plate;

FIG. 26 includes a perspective view of a side plate at the non-drive side;

Fig. 27 includes a side view at the drive side of the drive side swing guide and the developing cartridge;

fig. 28 includes a side view at the drive side of the drive side swing guide and the developing cartridge;

Fig. 29 includes a side view at the non-driving side of the non-driving side swing guide and the developing cartridge;

FIG. 30 includes a cross-sectional view of a perimeter of the coupling member;

fig. 31 includes a side view at the drive side of the drive side swing guide and the developing cartridge;

fig. 32 includes a side view at the drive side of the drive side swing guide and the developing cartridge;

FIG. 33 includes a perspective view of a non-drive side bearing;

FIG. 34 includes a cross-sectional view of a perimeter of the coupling member;

Fig. 35 includes a perspective view at the non-drive side of the device body;

fig. 36 is a side view at the non-drive side of the apparatus body and cartridge;

fig. 37 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge;

FIG. 38 includes a side view illustrating a non-drive side contact/spacer bar and a storage plate;

FIG. 39 is a side view illustrating a storage plate;

fig. 40 is a side view illustrating a non-drive side contact/spacer bar and a storage plate;

FIG. 41 includes side views illustrating the drive side contact/spacer bars;

fig. 42 includes a side view at a driving side of the developing cartridge mounted to the apparatus main body;

Fig. 43 includes a side view at a driving side of the developing cartridge mounted to the apparatus main body;

Fig. 44 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positions of the contact/spacer lever and the developing pressure spring;

Fig. 45 includes front and rear views illustrating a developing side cover;

fig. 46 includes a perspective view illustrating a developing side cover;

FIG. 47 includes front and rear views illustrating a drive side developing bearing;

FIG. 48 includes a perspective view illustrating a drive side developing bearing;

Fig. 49 includes a side view at a driving side of the developing cartridge mounted to the apparatus main body;

fig. 50 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge;

fig. 51 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non-driving side of a developing cartridge mounted to an apparatus main body;

Fig. 52 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non-driving side of the developing cartridge mounted to the apparatus main body;

Fig. 53 is a side view at the driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 54 is a side view at the driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 55 includes a perspective view at a driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 56 includes a side view and a sectional view at a driving side of the developing cartridge;

fig. 57 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non-driving side of a developing cartridge mounted to an apparatus main body.

Detailed Description

A cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described by way of the accompanying drawings. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described taking as an example a laser beam printer main body, and a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge detachably mounted to the laser beam printer main body. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is a direction substantially parallel to the photosensitive drum rotation axis L1 and the developing roller rotation axis L0 (the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller). Note that the photosensitive drum rotation axis L1 and the developing roller rotation axis L0 are directions orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The lateral directions of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are directions substantially orthogonal to the photosensitive drum rotation axis L1 and the developing roller rotation axis L0. The direction in which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are mounted/dismounted to/from the laser beam printer main body is the lateral direction of each cartridge. Note that reference numerals in the specification are used for reference to the drawings and are not limiting in configuration. The side view in the description of the present embodiment is a diagram showing a state viewed from a direction parallel to the developing roller rotation axis L0.

First embodiment

(1) General description of imaging device

First, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus that has adopted an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus shown in fig. 2 forms an image on a recording medium (sheet) 2 by an electrophotographic image forming process using a developer t according to image information communicated by an external device such as a personal computer or the like. The image forming apparatus has a developing cartridge B1 and a drum cartridge C provided to an apparatus main body A1 to be attachable and detachable by a user. Examples of the recording medium 2 include recording paper, a label sheet, an OHP sheet, cloth, and the like. The developing cartridge B1 has a developing roller 13 or the like as a developer bearing member, and the drum cartridge C has a photosensitive drum 10 and a charging roller 11 or the like as an image bearing member.

Regarding the photosensitive drum 10, by applying a voltage from the apparatus main body A1, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 11. The charged photosensitive drum 10 is then irradiated with the laser light L according to the image information from the optical unit 1, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10 according to the image information. The developing unit, which will be described later, develops the electrostatic latent image with the developer t, thereby forming a developer image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

On the other hand, the recording medium 2 accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 4 is separated and fed one at a time while being regulated by the sheet feeding roller 3a and the separation pad 3b in pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller 3a in synchronization with the formation of the developer image. The recording medium 2 is then conveyed by the conveying guide 3d to a transfer roller 6 as a transfer device. The transfer roller 6 is biased into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, the recording medium 2 passes through a transfer nip 6a formed by the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer roller 6. At this time, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developer is applied to the transfer roller 6, and thus the developer image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the recording medium 2.

The recording medium 2 to which the developer image has been transferred is regulated by a conveying guide 3f and conveyed to a fixing unit 5. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5a and a fixing roller 5c, and a built-in heater 5b is provided in the fixing roller 5 c. While the recording medium 2 passes through the nip 5d formed by the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5c, heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium 2, thereby fixing the developer image transferred onto the recording medium 2 on the recording medium 2. Thus, an image is formed on the recording medium 2.

Thereafter, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 3g and discharged to the discharge portion 3h.

(2) Description of electrophotographic imaging processes

Next, an electrophotographic image forming process to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional explanatory view of the developing cartridge B1 and the drum cartridge C.

The developing cartridge B1 has a developing blade 15, a developing roller 13 as a developing unit, and the like in a developing container 16, as shown in fig. 3. The developing cartridge B1 is a developing device that has been formed into a cartridge and is detachably mounted to an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.

The drum cartridge C also has the photosensitive drum 10, the charging roller 11, and the like in a cleaning frame (photosensitive member supporting frame) 21. The drum cartridge C is also detachably mounted to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.

The developer t stored in the developer accommodating portion 16a of the developing container 16 is fed out from the opening 16b of the developing container 16 to the developing chamber 16c by the developer conveying member 17, which developer conveying member 17 is rotatably supported by the developing container 16, rotating in the direction of the arrow X17. A developing roller 13 having a built-in magnet roller 12 is provided in a developing container 16. Specifically, the developing roller 13 is constituted by a shaft portion 13e and a rubber portion 13 d. The shaft portion 13e is a conductive elongated cylindrical object made of aluminum or the like, and a middle portion in the longitudinal direction thereof is covered with a rubber portion 13d (see fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b)). Now, the rubber portion 13d covers the shaft portion 13e such that its outer shape is concentric with the shaft portion 13 e. The developing roller 13 attracts the developer t in the developing chamber 16c to the surface of the developing roller 13 by the magnetism of the magnet roller 12. The developing blade 15 is constituted by a supporting member 15a and an elastic member 15b, the supporting member 15a being made of a metal plate, the elastic member 15b being made of urethane rubber, SUS plate, or the like, wherein the elastic member 15b is arranged to be in elastic contact with the developing roller 13 at a specific contact pressure. The developing roller 13 rotates in the rotation direction X5, which regulates the amount of the developer t adhering to the surface of the developing roller 13, and imparts frictional charge to the developer t. This forms a developer layer on the surface of the developing roller 13. Accordingly, the developing roller 13 receiving the voltage applied from the apparatus main body A1 is then rotated in the rotation direction X5 in a state of contact with the photosensitive drum 10, whereby the developer t can be supplied to the developing region on the photosensitive drum 10.

In the case of the contact developing system of the present embodiment, it is noted that if the state in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are always in contact as shown in fig. 3 is maintained, the rubber portion 13b of the developing roller 13 may be deformed. Therefore, the developing roller 13 is preferably spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 when there is no development.

The charging roller 11 is provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10, is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 21, and is biased in the direction of the photosensitive drum 10. The detailed construction will be described below. The charging roller 11 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by applying a voltage from the apparatus main body A1. The voltage applied to the charging roller 11 is set to a value such that the potential difference between the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the charging roller 11 is equal to or greater than the discharge charging voltage, and specifically a DC voltage of-1300V is applied as the charging bias. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 was uniformly charged to a charging potential (dark potential) of-700V by contact. The charging roller 11 is driven and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 in this example (described in detail below). An electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is formed by the laser light L from the optical unit 1. Thereafter, the developer t is transferred according to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10, so that the electrostatic latent image is visualized, thereby forming a developer image on the photosensitive drum 10.

(3) Description of the construction of cleanerless systems

Next, a cleanerless system according to the present example will be described.

In the present embodiment, a so-called cleanerless system is exemplified in which a cleaning member that removes the transfer residual toner t2 remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 without being transferred is not provided.

As shown in fig. 3, the photosensitive drum 10 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow C5. A gap portion (upstream gap portion 11 b) exists on the upstream side of the charging nip 11a where the charging roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in contact, as viewed from the rotation direction C5 of the photosensitive drum 10. By discharging at this upstream gap portion 11b, the transfer residual toner t2 remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer process is charged to the same negative polarity as the polarity of the photosensitive drum. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is charged to-700V. Because of the relationship of the potential differences here (surface potential of the photosensitive drum 10= -700V, potential of the charging roller 11= -1300V), the transfer residual toner t2 having negative charge passes through the charging nip 11a without adhering to the charging roller 11.

The transfer residual toner t2 passing through the charging nip 11a reaches the laser irradiation position d. The amount of transfer residual toner t2 is insufficient to block the laser light L from the optical unit, and thus does not affect the process of generating an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10. The transfer residual toner t2 that has passed through the laser irradiation position d and is in the non-exposed portion (the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 on which laser irradiation is not performed) is recovered to the developing roller 13 by electrostatic force at the developing nip 13k where the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in contact. On the other hand, the transfer residual toner t2 (the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 on which laser irradiation has been performed) at the exposure portion is not recovered by the electrostatic force, but remains on the photosensitive drum 10. However, some of the transfer residual toner t2 may be recovered due to a physical force generated by a peripheral speed difference between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10.

The transfer residual toner t2 which is not transferred to the paper but remains on the photosensitive drum 10 is generally recovered to the developing container 16. The transfer residual toner t2 recovered to the developing container 16 is mixed with the developer t remaining in the developing container 16 and used.

The following two configurations are adopted in the present embodiment so that the transfer residual toner t2 can pass through the charging nip 11a without adhering to the charging roller 11. The first configuration is to provide the optical static electricity eliminating member 8 between the transfer roller 6 and the charging roller 11. The optical static electricity eliminating member 8 is located on the upstream side of the charging nip 11a in the rotational direction (arrow C5) of the photosensitive drum 10. Optical static electricity elimination is performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 passing through the transfer nip 6a to perform stable discharge at the upstream gap portion 11 b. By setting the potential of the photosensitive drum 10 before charging to about-150V in the entire longitudinal region by using this optical static electricity eliminating member 8, uniform discharge can be performed, and the transfer residual toner t2 can be uniformly charged with negative charge at the time of charging.

The second configuration is to rotationally drive the charging roller 11 so as to have a predetermined peripheral speed difference with respect to the photosensitive drum 10. Although almost all the toner is negatively charged due to the discharge as described above, there is some transfer residual toner t2 that is not fully negatively charged, and this transfer residual toner t2 may adhere to the charging roller 11 at the charging nip 11 a. By rotationally driving the charging roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 10 so as to have a predetermined peripheral speed difference therebetween, the transfer residual toner t2 can be made negatively charged due to friction between the photosensitive drum 10 and the charging roller 11. This effectively suppresses adhesion of the transfer residual toner t2 to the charging roller 11. A charging roller gear 69 (fig. 16 (b), details of which will be described later) is provided on one end portion of the charging roller 11 in the longitudinal direction, and the charging roller gear 69 engages with the driving-side flange 24 (fig. 16 (b), details of which will be described later) provided on one end portion of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the charging roller 11 is also rotationally driven in conjunction with the rotational driving of the photosensitive drum 10. The peripheral speed of the surface of the charging roller 11 is set to about 105% to 120% of the peripheral speed of the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

(4) Description of the construction of developing cartridge B1

< Integral Structure of developing Cartridge B1 >

Next, the configuration of the developing cartridge B1 to which the embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described. Note that, in the following description, one end side of the developing cartridge B1 in the longitudinal direction will be referred to as a driving side at which a rotational force is transmitted from the apparatus main body A1 to the developing cartridge B1. The other side thereof is the other end portion of the developing cartridge B1, and will be referred to as "non-driving side". Fig. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of the developing cartridge B1 when viewed from the driving side. Fig. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of the developing cartridge B1 when viewed from the non-driving side. Fig. 6 (a) and 6 (B) are a perspective explanatory view (fig. 6 (a)) when viewed from the driving side and a perspective explanatory view (fig. 6 (B)) when viewed from the non-driving side, in which the driving side of the developing cartridge B1 is exploded. Fig. 7 (a) and 7 (B) are a perspective explanatory view (fig. 7 (a)) when viewed from the non-driving side and a perspective explanatory view (fig. 7 (B)) when viewed from the driving side, in which the non-driving side of the developing cartridge B1 is exploded.

The developing cartridge B1 has a developing roller 13, a developing blade 15, and the like, as shown in fig. 6 and 7. The developing blade 15 has a driving side end portion 15a1 and a non-driving side end portion 15a2 along the longitudinal direction of a supporting member 15a, the supporting member 15a being fixed to the developing container 16 by a screw 51 and a screw 52. The drive-side developing bearing 36 and the non-drive-side developing bearing 46 are disposed on the respective longitudinal ends of the developing container 16. The developing roller 13 has a driving side end portion 13a, and the driving side end portion 13a is fitted to a hole 36a of a driving side developing bearing 36. The non-driving side end portion 13c is fitted to the support 46f of the non-driving side developing bearing 46. Accordingly, the developing roller 13 is rotatably supported by the developing container 16. The developing roller gear 29 is arranged concentrically with the developing roller 13 on the driving side end portion 13a of the developing roller 13, and is arranged outside the longitudinal direction of the driving side developing bearing 36 so that the developing roller 13 and the developing roller gear 29 can integrally rotate (see fig. 4). The developing roller gear 29 is a helical gear.

The drive-side developing bearing 36 rotatably supports the drive input gear 27 located outside in the longitudinal direction thereof. The drive input gear 27 is meshed with the developing roller gear 29. The drive input gear 27 is also a helical gear. The teeth of the drive input gear 27 are more than those of the developing roller gear 29.

The coupling member 180 is also disposed concentric with the drive input gear 27.

The developing side cover 34 is provided at the farthest end at the driving side of the developing cartridge B1, covering the driving input gear 27 and the like from the outside in the longitudinal direction. The frame of the developing cartridge is composed of the developing container 16, the non-driving side developing bearing 46, the driving side developing bearing 36, and the developing side cover 34, and is referred to as a developing frame. Further, the coupling member 180 protrudes outward in the longitudinal direction through the hole 34a in the developing side cover 34. The coupling member 180 as a drive input member is configured to engage with a main body side drive member 100 provided to the apparatus main body A1, transmitting (inputting) a rotational force, which will be described in detail below. The configuration is such that the rotational force is transmitted to the rotational force receiving portion 27d1 (see fig. 8 (b)) and the rotational force receiving portion 27d2 (not shown) of the drive input gear 27 via the rotational force transmitting portions 180c1 and 180c2 of the coupling member 180. As a result, it is configured such that the rotational force input to the coupling member 180 is transmitted to the developing roller 13 as a rotating member via the drive input gear 27 and the developing roller gear 29.

The first movable member 120 is provided to the drive-side developing bearing 36. The first movable member 120 is configured to include a driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 as a first main body portion and a driving-side developing pressure spring 71 as a first elastic portion (elastically deformed part or member). The driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is a member that receives the elastic force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71.

Note that the first main body portion and the first elastic portion are configured as separate members in the present embodiment. However, the first body portion and the first elastic portion may be integrally formed in the first movable member 120, and the configuration thereof is not limited. Further, the second movable member 121 is provided to the non-driving side developing bearing 46. The second movable member 121 is configured to include a non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 as a second main body portion and a non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 as a second elastic portion (elastically deformed part or member). The non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is a member that receives the elastic force of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73.

Note that the second main body portion and the second elastic portion are configured as separate members in the present embodiment. However, the second body portion and the second elastic portion may be integrally formed in the second movable member 121 and the configuration thereof is not limited.

The details thereof will be described below.

< Coupling Member 180 and peripheral Structure >

The coupling member 180 and the peripheral configuration will be described in detail below.

The coupling member 180, the drive input gear 27, and the coupling spring 185 are provided on the drive side of the developing cartridge B1, as shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (B). The coupling member 180 engages with the main body side driving member 100 provided to the apparatus main body A1, and transmits a rotational force. Specifically, the coupling member 180 is configured to mainly include rotational force receiving portions 180a1 and 180a2, a supported portion 180b, rotational force transmitting portions 180c1 and 180c2, and a guided portion 180d, as shown in fig. 8 (b). The rotational force receiving portions 180a1 and 180a2 of the coupling member 180 are arranged further outside in the longitudinal direction of the driving-side end portion 27a of the driving input gear 27 (see fig. 8 (a) and 8 (b)). When the main body side driving member 100 rotates about the rotation axis L4 in the arrow X6 direction (hereinafter, the normal rotation X direction), the rotation force applying portion 100a1 of the main body side driving member 100 contacts the rotation force receiving portion 180a 1. Further, the rotational force applying portion 100a2 of the main body side driving member 100 contacts the rotational force receiving portion 180a2. Accordingly, the rotational force is transmitted from the main body side driving member 100 to the coupling member 180. The supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180 is substantially spherical, and as shown in fig. 8 (b) and 8 (e), the supporting portion 27b supports the supported portion 180b on the inner peripheral surface of the drive input gear 27. The rotational force transmitting portions 180c1 and 180c2 are provided on the supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180. The rotational force transmitting portion 180c1 contacts the rotational force receiving portion 27d1 of the drive input gear 27. In the same manner, the rotational force transmitting portion 180c2 contacts the rotational force receiving portion 27d2 of the drive input gear 27. Accordingly, the drive input gear 27 is driven by the coupling member 180 that has been driven by the main body side drive member 100, and thus the drive input gear 27 rotates in the normal rotation direction X6 about the rotation axis L3.

Now, as shown in fig. 8 (c), the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 and the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are disposed concentrically. However, there is a case where the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 and the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are slightly shifted in parallel from the concentric state due to a part size deviation or the like, as shown in fig. 8 (d). In this case, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 rotates in a state of being inclined with respect to the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27, and the rotational force is transmitted from the main body side drive member 100 to the coupling member 180. Further, there is also a case where the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 is offset from the concentric state with respect to the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100, and there is an angle between the rotation axis L3 and the rotation axis L4. In this case, in a state where the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis L4 of the main body side driving member 100, the rotation force is transmitted from the main body side driving member 100 to the coupling member 180.

As shown in fig. 8 (a), a gear portion 27c as a helical gear or a spur gear is formed integrally with the drive input gear 27 concentrically with the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 (helical gear is used in the present embodiment). The gear portion 27c is engaged with the gear portion 29a of the developing roller gear 29. The developing roller gear 29 rotates integrally with the developing roller 13 and thus the rotational force driving the input gear 27 is transmitted to the developing roller 13 via the developing roller gear 29. The developing roller 13 rotates about the rotation axis L9 in the rotation direction X5.

< Construction of electrode portion at non-drive side of developing Cartridge >

Next, a storage plate 47 as a contact portion and an electrode portion 47a as an exposed surface, the storage plate 47 and the electrode portion 47a being provided at a non-driving side end portion of the developing cartridge B1, will be described with reference to fig. 33 (a) and 33 (B). The storage plate 47 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the non-driving side developing bearing 46, and is provided to one side of the supporting portion 46f that rotatably supports the developing roller 13 when viewed from the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72. The storage board 47 stores manufacturing lot and characteristic information of the developing cartridge B1 for image formation by the apparatus main body A1. An electrode portion 47a made of metal such as iron, copper, or the like is provided to the memory board 47, and when imaging is performed, the electrode portion 47a is electrically connected to the apparatus main body A1 via the memory board 47 so as to perform communication.

The both end portions of the storage plate 47 are inserted into the first substrate support portion 46m and the second substrate support portion 46n, which are provided on the non-driving side developing bearing 46. The storage plate 47 and the first substrate support 46m and the second substrate support 46n are fixed by press fitting, bonding, or the like.

The storage plate 47 is provided with a plurality of electrode portions 47a. The direction in which these plurality of electrode portions 47a are arranged and the direction in which the memory plate 47 is inserted into the first substrate support 46m and the second substrate support 46n are the same direction.

< Assembly of drive side cover and peripheral portion >

Next, the configuration of the developing side cover 34 and the coupling lever 55, the developing side cover 34 being provided at the driving side end portion of the developing cartridge B1, will be described in detail. Fig. 9 (a) to 9 (d) are perspective explanatory views and side views illustrating the manner in which the coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56 are assembled to the developing side cover 34.

The coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56 are assembled on the inner side of the developing side cover 34 in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the cylindrical lever positioning boss 34m of the developing side cover 34 and the hole 55c of the coupling lever 55 are fitted together, and the coupling lever 55 is rotatably supported by the developing side cover 34, the developing side cover 34 being centered on the rotation axis L11. The coupling lever spring 56 is a torsion spring in which one end engages the coupling lever 55 and the other end engages the developing side cover 34. Specifically, the operation arm 56a of the coupling lever spring 56 engages the spring hook portion 55b of the coupling lever 55, and the fixing arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 engages the spring hook portion 34s of the developing side cover 34 (see fig. 9 (c)).

The coupling spring 185 is assembled on the outer side of the developing side cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, which will be described in detail later.

A method of assembling the coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56 to the developing side cover 34 will be described in order. First, the cylindrical portion 56d of the link spring 56 is attached to the cylindrical boss 55a of the link 55 (fig. 9 (a)). The operating arm 56a of the coupling rod spring 56 now engages the spring hook 55b of the coupling rod 55. The fixed arm 56c of the link spring 56 is deformed in the direction of the arrow X11 centering on the rotation axis L11. Next, the hole 55c of the coupling lever 55 is inserted onto the lever positioning boss 34m of the developing side cover 34 (fig. 9 (a) and 9 (b)). The locking portion 55d of the coupling lever 55 is positioned so as not to interfere with the locked portion 34n of the developing side cover 34. Specifically, the locking portion 55d of the coupling lever 55 and the locked portion 34n of the developing side cover 34 are positioned so as not to overlap when viewed from the longitudinal direction, as shown in fig. 9 (b).

In the state shown in fig. 9 (b), the fixed arm 56c of the link spring 56 is deformed in the direction of the arrow X11, as described previously. When the deformation of the fixing arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 is released from the state shown in fig. 9 (b), the fixing arm 56c engages the spring hook 34s of the developing side cover 34. This configuration allows the spring hook portion 34s of the developing side cover 34 to receive the biasing force of the deformation fixing arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56. As a result, the fixing arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 receives a reaction force from the spring hook 34s of the developing side cover 34 in the direction of the arrow X11. Further, the link 55 receives a biasing force from the link spring 56 at the spring hook 55 b. As a result, the coupling lever 55 rotates in the direction of the arrow X11 centering on the rotation axis L11, and rotation is restricted at a position where the rotation restricting portion 55y abuts against the restricting surface 34y of the developing side cover 34 (see fig. 9a to 9 (c)). Thus, the operation of assembling the coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56 to the developing side cover 34 is ended.

Note that at this time, the locking portion 55d of the coupling lever 55 is in a state of overlapping the locked portion 34n of the developing side cover 34 when viewed in the longitudinal direction. That is, the coupling lever 55 is configured such that movement in the longitudinal direction is restricted, and such that rotation is enabled only centering on the rotation axis X11. Fig. 9 (d) is a sectional view of the locking portion 55d of the coupling lever 55.

< Assembly of developing side cover 34 >

The developing side cover 34 is fixed on the outside of the driving side developing bearing 36 in the longitudinal direction, and as shown in fig. 10, at the developing side cover 34, a coupling lever 55 and a coupling lever spring 56 are integrated. Specifically, the positioning portion 34r1 of the developing side cover 34 and the positioned portion 36e1 of the driving side developing bearing 36 are engaged. This configuration allows the developing side cover 34 to be positioned with respect to the driving side developing bearing 36 by engagement of the positioning portion 34r2 and the positioned portion 36e 2.

Note that the method of fixing the developing side cover 34 to the driving side developing bearing 36 may be by screwing, adhesive, or the like, and the configuration thereof is not limited.

When the developing side cover 34 is assembled, the rotational force receiving portions 180a1 and 180a2, the guided portion 180d, and the like of the coupling member 180 pass through the hole 34a of the developing side cover 34. The coupling member 180 has a configuration exposed on the other side of the developing cartridge B1 in the longitudinal direction (see fig. 4, 6 (a) and 6 (B)). Further, the guided portion 180d (see fig. 8 (a) to 8 (e)) of the coupling member 180 has a configuration of abutting against the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55.

As described above, the coupling lever 55 is configured such that the biasing force acts in the direction of the arrow X11 centering on the rotation axis L11. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 receives the biasing force F2 from the coupling lever 55 (see fig. 10 (b)).

Further, a coupling spring 185 is disposed at the developing side cover 34. The coupling spring 185 is a torsion coil spring, one end portion abuts against the developing side cover 34 and the other end portion abuts against the coupling member 180. Specifically, the positioning portion 185a of the coupling spring 185 is supported by the spring supporting portion 34h of the developing side cover 34. The fixing arm 185b of the coupling spring 185 is fixed to the spring engaging portion 34j of the developing side cover 34. Further, this configuration causes the operation arm 185c of the coupling spring 185 to abut against the guided member 180d of the coupling member 180. The operation arm 185c of the coupling spring 185 is configured such that the biasing force acts in the direction of the arrow L12 centering around the rotation axis X12, which rotation axis X12 is centered around the positioning portion 185 a. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 receives the biasing force F1b from the coupling spring 185 (see fig. 10 (c)).

The coupling member 180 that has received the biasing force F2 from the coupling lever 55 and the biasing force F1b from the coupling spring 185 is held in a posture (rotation axis L2) inclined with respect to the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 (fig. 10 (b)). The detailed construction will be described below. The configuration and the force that maintain the tilt posture of the coupling member 180 at this time will be described below in the "relationship of the force that acts on the coupling member 180 when in the second tilt posture D2".

< Basic operation of coupling Member 180 >

Next, a basic operation of the coupling member 180 in the state of the developing cartridge B1 will be described with reference to fig. 15 (a) to 15 (c).

Fig. 15 (a) is an enlarged view showing the relationship among the coupling member 180, the drive input gear 27, and the drive-side developing bearing 36 in a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 15 (b) is a perspective view of the drive side developing bearing 36. Fig. 15 (c) is a perspective view of the drive input gear 27.

The supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180 is disposed on the inner portion 27t of the drive input gear 27, and is also wedged between the restricting portion 27s of the drive input gear 27 and the coupling restricting portion 36s of the drive side developing bearing 36. The diameter r180 of the supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180, the width r27 in the direction of X180 of the regulating portion 27s of the drive input gear 27, and the width r36 in the direction of X180 of the coupling regulating portion 36s of the drive side developing bearing 36 satisfy the following relationship:

Diameter r180 of supported portion 180b > width r27 of restricting portion 27s of drive input gear 27 in the direction of X180

Diameter r180 of supported portion 180b > width r36 of coupling regulating portion 36s of drive side developing bearing 36 along direction X180

According to this configuration, the movement of the coupling member 180 in the direction of the longitudinal arrow Y180 is restricted by the supported portion 180b, which supported portion 180b is restricted by the restricting portion 27s of the drive input gear 27 of the coupling restricting portion 36s of the drive side developing bearing 36. Further, along the cross-sectional direction X180 of the coupling member 180, the supported portion 180b is limited within the range of the inner portion 27t of the drive input gear 27. Therefore, the coupling member 180 is configured to be capable of tilting in the R180 direction about the center 180s of the supported portion 180b even if the movement in the longitudinal direction Y180 and the cross-sectional direction X180 is restricted.

< Tilting posture concerning coupling Member 180 >

Next, the tilting operation of the coupling member 180 will be described.

The coupling member 180 has a configuration that receives a driving force from the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 and is rotatable on the rotation axis L2, as described above. Basically, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is arranged concentric with the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 when transmitting the driving force. A case has been further described in which the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 and the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are not concentric, but slightly offset due to a part size deviation or the like.

The present configuration enables the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 to be inclined in the following direction. These can be broadly categorized into the following three poses.

Reference posture D0: the attitude of the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is concentric with respect to the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 or parallel to the rotation axis L3

First tilt posture D1: wherein the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1, and the developing cartridge B1 is moved from a state in which the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are spaced apart toward a contact state in which they are in contact. The rotational force receiving portions 180A1, 180a2 (hereinafter referred to as rotational force receiving portions 180 a) of the coupling member 180 and the supported portion 180b face the direction of the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1. Details of the interval state, the contact state, and the like will be described below.

Second tilt posture D2: wherein the rotational force receiving portion 180a and the supported portion 180B of the coupling member 180 face the direction of the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1. Details of the posture at the time of installation and the like will be described below.

Now, the engagement relationship between the coupling member 180 and the drive-side developing bearing 36 will be described.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the drive side developing bearing 36 and the coupling member 180.

Fig. 13 (a) is a perspective view illustrating positions of the drive side developing bearing 36 and the coupling member 180. Fig. 13 (b) is a diagram of the drive side developing bearing 36 when viewed from the front at the drive side. Fig. 13 (c) is a diagram of a view obtained along a section XIIIC in fig. 13 (b) to which the coupling member 180 has been added, and fig. 13 (d) is a diagram of a view obtained along a section XIIID in fig. 13 (b) to which the coupling member 180 has been added.

The phase restriction boss 180e is provided on the coupling member 180 concentrically with the rotation axis L2 and on the inner side in the longitudinal direction, as shown in fig. 13 (a). On the other hand, a recessed phase restriction portion 36kb is provided in the drive side developing bearing 36. The phase limiter 36kb is specifically provided with: a first inclination restriction portion 36kb1, the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1 being recessed from the center of the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 in the direction of arrow K1 a; and a second inclination restricting portion 36kb2 recessed from the center of the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 in the direction of arrow K2 a. The phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is located within the phase restriction portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36. That is, the position of the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is restricted by the phase restriction portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36. In other words, the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is movable within the phase restriction portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36, and is particularly movable to the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1 and the second inclination restriction portion 36kb2. When the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 moves to the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1, the rotational force receiving portion 180a and the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 are inclined in the direction of the arrow K1b, that is, in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow K1 a. This is a state in which the coupling member 180 assumes the first tilting posture D1. When the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 moves to the second inclination restriction portion 36kb2, the rotational force receiving portion 180a and the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 are inclined in the direction of the arrow K2b, that is, in the direction opposite to the arrow K2 a. This is a state in which the coupling member 180 assumes the second inclined posture D2 of the coupling member 180.

< Relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 when in the reference posture D0 >

The posture of the coupling member 180 will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 21 (a) to 22 (D) with respect to the reference posture D0 of the coupling member 180.

Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating positions of the coupling lever 55 and the coupling member 180 at the time of completion of the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1. Fig. 22 (a) is a side view when viewed from the driving side, fig. 22 (b) is a side view when viewed from the direction of arrow XXIIB in fig. 22 (a), and fig. 22 (c) is a side view of a cross section taken along a cut-out line XXIIC in fig. 22 (b) when viewed from the non-driving side.

When the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 is completed, the coupling member 180 engages the main body side driving member 100. The rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180, the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100, and the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are arranged concentrically. In other words, the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying portion 100a (the rotational force applying portion 100a1 and the rotational force applying portion 100a 2) of the main body side driving member 100 are at positions where they can be engaged with each other (see also fig. 8 (b)).

The movement of the coupling member 180 before the coupling member 180 is concentric with the main body side driving member 100 will be described with reference to fig. 34 (a) to 34 (c). Fig. 34 (a) to 34 (c) are sectional views illustrating the posture of the coupling member 180 before it is concentric with the main body side driving member 100. Fig. 34 (a) is a sectional view illustrating a state where the coupling member 180 is not in contact with the main body side driving member 100, and fig. 34 (b) is a sectional view illustrating a state where the coupling member 180 is in contact with the main body side driving member 100. Fig. 34 (c) is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 in a concentric state.

In a state where the coupling member 180 is not in contact with the main body side driving member 100, the coupling member 180 is inclined in the direction of the main body side driving member 100, the inclination being centered on the center 180s of the supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180, as shown in fig. 34 (a). The coupling member 180 advances in the direction of an arrow X60 while maintaining the posture, the direction of the arrow X60 being the direction in which the main body side driving member 100 is disposed. The recessed conical portion 180g is in contact with the protruding portion 100g, the recessed conical portion 180g being arranged on the inner side of the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180, and the protruding portion 100g being arranged on the axial end of the main body side driving member 100. When the coupling member 180 is further moved in the direction of the arrow X60, the coupling member 180 is moved in a direction in which the inclination of the coupling member 180 is reduced, the inclination being centered on the center 180s of the supported portion 180b of the coupling member 180. As a result, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180, the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100, and the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are arranged concentrically. The force that the coupling member 180 receives in this series of operations will be described in detail below, and thus a description thereof will be omitted herein.

The state in which the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 are arranged concentrically is a reference posture D0 for the posture of the coupling member 180 (the inclination angle of the coupling member 180 is θ2=0°). The phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is separated from the second inclination restriction portion 36kb2 of the driving side developing bearing 36 and is not in contact with any portion of the phase restriction portion 36b of the driving side developing bearing 36 (see fig. 22 (c)). The guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is maintained in a state of being completely retracted from the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 (fig. 22 (a)). That is, the coupling member 180 is in contact with two parts (the coupling spring 185 and the main body side driving member 100), which determines the inclination angle (θ2) thereof. In this case, even in a state where the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 is completed, the inclination angle (θ2) of the coupling member 180 may not be θ2=0°.

The tilting posture (reference posture D0) of the coupling member 180 in the case where the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 is completed will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 are engaged. The states illustrated in fig. 14 (a) and 14 (b) are side views and sectional views of the case where the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 are arranged concentrically, and the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is also concentric.

The guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 receives a biasing force from the coupling spring 185 in the direction of arrow F1 (see fig. 22 (d)), and the conical portion 180g abuts against the protruding portion 100g at points 180g1 and 180g2 (fig. 8 (e)). As a result, the posture of the coupling member 180 with respect to the main body side driving member 100 is restricted by the two points 180g1 and 180g2 of the conical portion 180 g. That is, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is concentric with the rotational axis L4 of the main body side driving member 100.

When the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 performs rotational driving from this state, the rotational force applying portion 100a of the apparatus main body A1 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 are engaged. This configuration allows driving to be transmitted from the apparatus main body A1 to the coupling member 180 (see fig. 8 (a) to 8 (e)).

In the state illustrated in fig. 14 (c), the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 are arranged concentrically, and the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined. Due to the part size deviation, the conical portion 180g of the coupling member 180 abuts the protruding portion 100g of the main body side driving member 100 and the point 180g1 of the conical portion 180g instead of the point 180g2 of the conical portion 180 g. The rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined at this time by the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 receiving the biasing force in the direction of the arrow F1 from the coupling spring 185. Therefore, the posture of the coupling member 180 is restricted in fig. 14 (c) by the point 180g1 of the conical portion 180g of the coupling member 180 coming into contact with the protruding portion 100g of the main body side driving member 100. That is, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis L4 of the main body side driving member 100. In other words, the inclination angle (θ2) of the coupling member 180 is not θ2=0°.

Further, in the state illustrated in fig. 14 (d), in the case where the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotation axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 are not concentric, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined due to the part size deviation (see fig. 8 (d)). Also in this case, by the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 receiving the biasing force from the coupling spring 185, the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined as in the state illustrated in fig. 14 (c). That is, the inclination angle (θ2) of the coupling member 180 is not equal to 0 °. However, the posture of the coupling member 180 is restricted by a point 180g1 where the conical portion 180g of the coupling member 180 contacts the protruding portion 100g of the main body side driving member 100, as in fig. 14 (c).

However, in either state of fig. 14 (c) and 14 (d), when the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 performs rotational driving, the rotational force applying portion 100a of the apparatus main body A1 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 are engaged. This configuration allows transmission of drive from the apparatus main body A1 to the coupling member 180.

As described above, in a state in which the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 is completed, there are the following cases: the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is concentric with the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27; the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is not concentric with the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27. In either case, however, when the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 performs rotational driving, the rotational force applying portion 100a of the apparatus main body A1 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 are engaged. This configuration allows drive to be transmitted from the apparatus main body A1 to the coupling member 180. In a state in which the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 has been completed and the coupling member 180 is able to receive the driving force from the rotational force applying portion 100a of the apparatus main body A1, the posture of the coupling member 180 is referred to as a reference posture D0 of the coupling member 180. Note that this configuration makes the inclination angle within a range in which the rotational force applying portion 100a of the main body side driving member 100 and the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 are not released from each other.

The first and second inclined postures D1 and D2 of the coupling member 180 will be described in detail in order below.

< Relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 while in the first tilting posture D1 >

First, a relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 when in the first inclined posture D1 will be described with reference to fig. 11 (a) to 11 (c).

Fig. 11 (a) is a side view of the developing cartridge B1 in a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is mounted in the apparatus main body A1 and in a spaced state in which the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are spaced apart. Fig. 11 (B) is a sectional view of the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 within the phase restriction portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36 when viewed from the non-drive side of the developing cartridge B1. Further, fig. 11 (c) is a sectional view of the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180, which is cut at the position of the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 and is viewed from the driving side along the longitudinal direction.

The link lever 55 receives a biasing force (see fig. 9 (a)) from the link lever spring 56 to rotate in the direction of arrow X11 centering on the rotation axis L11. On the other hand, in a state where the developing cartridge B1 is mounted in the apparatus main body A1, the movement in the direction of the arrow X11 is restricted by the abutment portion 80y provided to the apparatus main body A1. Specifically, the position of the link 55 is restricted against the biasing force of the link spring 56 by the abutment 80y coming into contact with the rotation restricting portion 55y of the link 55. Note that the abutting portion 80y is formed integrally with the driving-side swing guide 80 (see fig. 20 (b)). The guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is in a retracted state retracted from the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180. The contact between the coupling lever 55 and the abutment 80y will be described in detail in the dismounting process of the developing cartridge B1 described later.

On the other hand, since the guide portion 185d of the coupling spring 185 is in contact with the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180, the force F1a acts on the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180. That is, the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 receives a force inclined in the direction of the arrow F1a (see fig. 11 (c)). The phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is configured to be restricted at this time by the guide portions 36kb1a, 36kb1b, and 36kb1c of the driving-side developing bearing 36, and is configured to finally move to the first inclination restricting portion 36kb1. That is, this configuration makes the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of the arrow K1a (fig. 11 (b)), while on the other hand, the rotational force receiving portion 180a and the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of the arrow K1b (fig. 11 (a)). The above-described posture of the coupling member 180 is referred to as a first inclined posture D1 of the coupling member 180.

The orientation of the guide portion 185d of the coupling spring 185 (the direction of arrow F1 a) can be orthogonal to the direction of arrow K1b with respect to the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 (see fig. 11 (a)). This direction is a direction of abutting the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 of the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1, thereby enabling the biasing force of the coupling spring 185 to be reduced to maintain the first inclination posture D1 of the coupling member 180. However, this is not limited as long as the coupling member 180 can be maintained in the first tilting posture D1 by adjusting the biasing force of the coupling spring 185 or the like.

< Relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 when in the second inclined posture D2 >

Next, a relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 when in the second inclined posture D2 will be described with reference to fig. 12.

Fig. 12 (a) is a side view of the developing cartridge B1, which shows a state of the developing cartridge B1 before being mounted to the apparatus main body A1, that is, in a separate state (natural state) of the developing cartridge B1. Fig. 12 (B) is a sectional view of the position of the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 within the phase restriction portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36 when viewed from the non-drive side of the developing cartridge B1. Further, fig. 12 (c) is a sectional view in which the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 has been cut away and is seen from the driving side in the longitudinal direction. Fig. 12 (a) illustrates a state in which the abutment portion 80y provided to the apparatus main body A1 in fig. 11 (a) is not present. At this time, the coupling lever 55 receives a biasing force from the coupling lever spring 56 in the direction of the arrow X11 centering on the rotation axis L11 and rotates to a position where the guide portion 55e thereof contacts the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180. That is, both the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 and the guide portion 185d of the coupling spring 185 are in contact with the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180.

Now, as described above, the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 receives the force inclined in the direction of the arrow F3. At this time, the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is configured to be restricted by the guide portion 36kb2a, the guide portion 36kb2b, and the guide portion 36kb2c of the driving side developing bearing 36 and is configured to finally move to the second inclination restricting portion 36kb2. That is, this configuration makes the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of the arrow K2a (fig. 12 (b)), while on the other hand, the rotational force receiving portion 180a and the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of the arrow K2b (fig. 12 (a)). The above-described posture of the coupling member 180 is referred to as a second inclined posture D2 of the coupling member.

(5) General description of Drum Cartridge C

Next, the configuration of the drum cartridge C will be described with reference to fig. 16 (a) and 16 (b). Fig. 16 (a) is a perspective explanatory view of the drum cartridge C as seen from the non-driving side thereof. Fig. 16 (b) is a perspective explanatory view in which the cleaning frame 21, the drum bearing 30, the drum shaft 54, and the like have been omitted from the illustration to describe the peripheries of the photosensitive drum 10 and the charging roller 11.

The drum cartridge C has a photosensitive drum 10, a charging roller 11, and the like, as shown in fig. 16. The charging roller 11 is rotatably supported by a charging roller bearing 67a and a charging roller bearing 67b and is biased against the photosensitive drum 10 by a charging roller biasing member 68a and a charging roller biasing member 68 b.

The driving-side flange 24 is integrally fixed to the driving-side end portion 10a of the photosensitive drum 10 and the non-driving-side flange 28 is integrally fixed to the non-driving-side end portion 10b of the photosensitive drum 10. The driving-side flange 24 and the non-driving-side flange 28 are concentrically fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 by swaging, bonding, or the like. At both ends of the cleaning frame 21 in the longitudinal direction, the drum bearing 30 is fixed to the driving side end portion and the drum shaft 54 is fixed to the non-driving side end portion by means such as screwing, adhesive, press fitting, or the like. The driving-side flange 24 integrally fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 is rotatably supported by the drum bearing 30, and the non-driving-side flange 28 is rotatably supported by the drum shaft 54.

The charging roller gear 69 is provided on one end portion of the charging roller 11 in the longitudinal direction, wherein the charging roller gear 69 is meshed with the gear portion 24g of the driving side flange 24. This configuration allows the rotational force from the apparatus main body A1 side to be transmitted to the driving-side end portion 24a (not shown) of the driving-side flange 24. As a result, when the photosensitive drum 10 is rotationally driven, the charging roller 11 is also rotationally driven. The peripheral speed of the surface of the charging roller 11 is set to about 105% to 120% of the peripheral speed of the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, as described above.

(6) Description of the mounting/dismounting configuration of the developing cartridge B1 with respect to the apparatus main body A1

Next, a method of mounting/dismounting the developing cartridge B1 to/from the apparatus main body A1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 17 is a perspective explanatory view of the apparatus main body A1 from the non-driving side, and fig. 18 is a perspective explanatory view of the apparatus main body A1 from the driving side. Fig. 19 (a) to 19 (d) are explanatory diagrams of a process of mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 when viewed from the driving side.

The guided portion 46d having the positioning portion 46B and the rotation stopper 46c is provided at the non-driving side developing bearing 46 at the developing cartridge B1, as shown in fig. 17. A guided portion 34d having a positioning portion 34b and a rotation stopper 34c is provided to the developing side cover 34, as shown in fig. 18.

On the other hand, a driving side guide member 92 and a driving side swinging guide 80 are provided at a driving side plate 90 constituting a casing of the apparatus main body A1 at a driving side of the apparatus main body A1, and as shown in fig. 17, the driving side swinging guide 80 moves integrally with the developing cartridge B1 inside the apparatus main body A1. Details of the driving-side swing guide 80 will be described below. The driving-side guide member 92 is provided with a first guide portion 92a, a second guide portion 92b, and a third guide portion 92c. A groove for the mounting/dismounting path X1a following the mounting/dismounting path of the developing cartridge B1 is provided to the first guide portion 92a of the driving side guide member 92, and a groove for the mounting/dismounting path X1B following the mounting/dismounting path of the developing cartridge B1 is provided to the second guide portion 92B. A groove for following the attachment/detachment path X3 of the attachment/detachment path of the drum cartridge C is provided in the third guide portion 92C of the driving side guide member 92. The first guide portion 80a and the second guide portion 80b are provided to the driving-side swing guide 80. The first guide portion 80a of the driving-side swing guide 80 has formed therein a groove shape following the attachment/detachment path X2a of the developing cartridge B1 as an extension of the first guide portion 92a of the driving-side guide member 92. The second guide portion 80B of the driving-side swing guide 80 has formed therein a groove shape following the attachment/detachment path X2B of the developing cartridge B1 as an extension of the second guide portion 92B of the driving-side guide member 92.

In the same manner, the non-driving side guide member 93 and the non-driving side swing guide 81 are provided at the non-driving side plate 91 constituting the casing of the apparatus main body A1 at the non-driving side of the apparatus main body A1, and as shown in fig. 18, the non-driving side swing guide 81 moves in the same manner as the driving side swing guide 80. The first guide portion 93a and the second guide portion 93b are provided to the non-driving side guide member 93.

A groove-like mounting/dismounting path XH1a following the mounting/dismounting path of the developing cartridge B1 is formed at the first guide portion 93a of the non-driving side guide member 93. A groove-like mounting/dismounting path XH3 following the mounting/dismounting path of the drum cartridge C is formed at the second guide portion 93b of the non-driving side guide member 93. The guide portion 81a is provided to the non-driving-side swing guide 81. The groove shape of the mounting/dismounting path XH2a following the mounting/dismounting path of the developing cartridge B1 is provided as an extension of the first guide portion 93a of the non-driving side guide member 93 to the guide portion of the guide portion 81a of the non-driving side swing guide 81.

The detailed configurations of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81 will be described below.

Description of non-drive side Electrical contacts ]

Next, the electrical contact portion of the apparatus body A1 will be described with reference to fig. 35.

The non-driving side plate 91 is provided with a power supply unit 120 at a position facing the electrode portion 47a of the storage plate 47 of the developing cartridge B1 when image forming. The power supply unit 120 has a power supply contact 120A, the power supply contact 120A being formed of a wire spring or a leaf spring or the like, having a spring characteristic and protruding from the power supply unit 120, the power supply contact 120A being connected to a circuit board not shown.

< Mounting of developing cartridge B1 to apparatus body A1>

A method of mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 will be described below. As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the inside of the apparatus main body A1 is exposed by rotating the main body cover 94 in the opening direction D1, the main body cover 94 being disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus main body A1 and being openable and closable.

Thereafter, the guided portion 46d (fig. 17) of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 of the developing cartridge B1 and the first guide portion 93a (fig. 18) of the non-driving side guide member 93 of the apparatus main body A1 are engaged. Further, the guided portion 34d (fig. 18) of the developing side cover 34 of the developing cartridge B1 is engaged with the first guide portion 92a (fig. 17) of the driving side guide member 92 of the apparatus main body A1. Accordingly, the developing cartridge B1 follows the mounting/dismounting path X1a and the mounting/dismounting path XH1a formed by the first guide portion 92a of the driving side guide member 92 and the first guide portion 93a of the non-driving side guide member 93, inserted into the apparatus main body A1.

When the developing cartridge B1 is mounted into the apparatus main body A1, the coupling member 180 is in the state of the above-described second inclined posture D2, as described above. The coupling member 180 is inserted into the second guide portion 92b of the driving side guide member 92 while maintaining the second inclined posture D2. For further detailed description, a gap exists between the coupling member 180 of the driving side guide member 92 and the second guide portion 92 b. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 maintains the state of the second tilting posture D2 while inserting the developing cartridge B1 into the apparatus body A1 after following the mounting/dismounting paths X1B and XH1 a.

The developing cartridge B1 inserted into the apparatus main body A1 following the mounting/dismounting paths X1a and XH1a is next inserted into the apparatus main body A1 following the mounting/dismounting paths X2a and XH2 a. The attachment/detachment paths X2a and XH2a are formed by the first guide portion 80a of the driving side swing guide 80 and the guide portion 81a of the non-driving side swing guide 81. To describe in further detail, first, the guided portion 34d provided to the developing side cover 34 is guided by the first guide portion 92a of the driving side guide member 92 of the apparatus main body A1. This configuration makes it possible to thereafter shift the guided portion 34d to the first guide portion 80a of the driving-side swing guide 80 of the apparatus main body A1 as the mounting process continues. In the same manner, at the non-driving side, the guided portion 46d provided to the non-driving side developing bearing 46 is guided by the first guide portion 93a of the non-driving side guide member 93 of the apparatus main body A1. This configuration is such that, thereafter, as the mounting process continues, the guided portion 46d is handed over to the guide portion 81a of the non-driving-side swing guide 81 of the apparatus main body A1.

The coupling member 180 provided at the driving-side end of the developing cartridge B1 is handed over from the second guide portion 92B of the driving-side guide member 92 of the apparatus main body A1 to the second guide portion 80B of the driving-side swing guide 80 while maintaining the second inclined posture D2. Note that a gap exists between the coupling member 180 and the second guide portion 80b of the driving-side swing guide 80 in the same manner as described above.

< Positioning of developing Cartridge B1 >

Next, a configuration by which the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81 of the apparatus main body A1 position the developing cartridge B1 will be described. Note that the basic structure is the same for the driving side and the non-driving side, and thus description will be made hereinafter taking the driving side of the developing cartridge B1 as an example. Fig. 19 (a) to 19 (d) illustrate states of the developing cartridge B1 and the driving-side swing guide 80 during the process of mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1.

Fig. 19 (a) illustrates a state in which the guided portion 34d of the developing side cover 34 provided to the developing cartridge B1 is guided by the first guide portion 80a of the driving side swinging guide 80, and the developing cartridge B1 is on the attachment/detachment path X2 a.

Fig. 19 (B) illustrates a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is further mounted from the state in fig. 19 (a). The positioning portion 34b of the guided portion 34d of the developing side cover 34 abuts against the positioning portion 82a of the driving side pressing member 82 provided on the driving side swinging guide 80 at the point P1.

Further, fig. 20 is a perspective explanatory view illustrating peripheral forms of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the driving-side pressing member 82. Fig. 20 (a) is a perspective view seen from the driving side along the longitudinal direction, and fig. 20 (b) is a perspective view seen from the non-driving side along the longitudinal direction. Fig. 20 (c) is an exploded perspective view of the driving-side swing guide 80, the driving-side pressing member 82, and the driving-side pressing spring 83. Fig. 20 (d) and 20 (e) are enlarged detail views of the surroundings of the driving-side pressing member 82.

Now, the driving-side pressing member 82 has a hole 82b, a seating surface 82c, and a restricting portion 82d in addition to the positioning portion 82a, as shown in fig. 20 (a) and 20 (b). The hole 82b is engaged with the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80, and can be rotatably supported centering on the boss 80c, as shown in fig. 20 (c). Further, one end portion 83c of the driving-side pressing spring 83 is in contact with the seating surface 82 c. Further, the other end portion 83d of the driving-side pressing spring 83 is in contact with the seating surface 80d of the driving-side swing guide 80, as shown in fig. 20 (d). Accordingly, the driving-side pressing member 82 is configured to receive the biasing force F82 in the direction rotating in the direction of the arrow Ra1 centering around the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80. Note that the rotation of the driving-side pressing member 82 in the direction of the arrow Ra1 is restricted by the restricting portion 82d thereof abutting against the rotation restricting portion 80e provided to the driving-side swing guide 80, thereby positioning the driving-side pressing member 82. Note that the driving-side pressing member 82 rotatably supported by the driving-side swing guide 80 is capable of rotating in the direction of arrow Ra2 against the biasing force F82 of the driving-side pressing spring 83, as shown in fig. 20 (e). Further, the upper end 82e of the driving-side pressing member 82 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow Ra2 up to a position where it does not protrude from the guide surface 80w of the driving-side swing guide 80.

Fig. 19 (c) is a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is further mounted from the state of fig. 19 (B). A state is illustrated in which the guided portion 34d in which the positioning portion 34b of the developing side cover 34 and the rotation stopper 34c are formed integrally abuts against the proximal inclined surface 82w of the driving side pressing member 82, thereby pressing the driving side pressing member 82 downward in the direction of the arrow Ra 2. To describe in detail, the guided portion 34d of the developing side cover 34 abuts the proximal inclined surface 82w of the driving side pressing member 82 and presses the driving side pressing member 82. This causes the driving-side pressing member 82 to rotate counterclockwise (the direction of arrow Ra 2) about the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80 against the biasing force F82 of the driving-side pressing spring 83. Fig. 19 (c) is a state in which the positioning portion 34b of the developing side cover 34 and the upper end portion 82e of the driving side pressing member 82 are in contact. At this time, the restricting portion 82d of the driving-side pressing member 82 is separated from the rotation restricting portion 80e of the driving-side swing guide 80.

Fig. 19 (d) is a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is further mounted from the state of fig. 19 (c), illustrating a state in which the positioning portion 34d of the developing side cover 34 and the positioning portion 80f of the driving side swinging guide 80 are in contact. As described above, the configuration of the driving-side pressing member 82 receives the biasing force F82 in the direction of rotation in the direction of the arrow Ra1 centering around the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80. Accordingly, the distal inclined surface 82s of the driving-side pressing member 82 biases the positioning portion 34b of the developing-side cover 34 with the biasing force F4. As a result, the positioning portion 34b contacts the positioning portion 80f of the driving-side swing guide 80 at the point P3, and there is no gap between the positioning portion 34b and the positioning portion 80 f. Therefore, the driving side of the developing cartridge B1 is positioned and fixed at the driving side swing guide 80.

The configuration of the non-driving side is the same as that of the driving side in which the non-driving side swing guide 81, the non-driving side pressing member 84, and the non-driving side pressing spring 85 are provided corresponding to the driving side swing guide 80, the driving side pressing member 82, and the driving side pressing spring 83, as shown in fig. 36. Therefore, the positioning of the positioning portion 46b of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 and the positioning of the non-driving side swinging guide 81 are also the same as those at the driving side (description will be omitted). According to these, the developing cartridge B1 is positioned and fixed at the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81.

< Operation of coupling Member 180 during the Process of mounting developing cartridge B1 >

Next, the operation of the coupling member 180 in the process of mounting the developing cartridge B1 will be described with reference to fig. 21, 22, and 23.

In a state before the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1, the coupling member 180 assumes the second inclined posture D2 as described above. The coupling member 180 is inserted into the apparatus body A1 while maintaining the second tilting posture D2. Fig. 21 (a) illustrates a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1 and is located on the mounting/dismounting path X2a formed at the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81. Fig. 21 (e) is a view of the state in fig. 21 (a) as seen from the direction of arrow XXIE in fig. 21 (a). This configuration is such that, for the second inclined posture D2 of the coupling member 180, the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 faces the direction of the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 while the developing cartridge B1 is located on the attachment/detachment path X2 a. More specifically, the coupling member 180 is inclined in a direction of the main body side driving member 100 centered on the center 180s of the supported portion 180b thereof, where the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 are in contact thereabout, which will be described later. The second inclination restricting portion 36kb2 of the drive side developing bearing 36 is formed to incline the coupling member 180 in this way (see fig. 12 (b), 13 (a) to 13 (d), and 15 (a)).

In the state illustrated in fig. 21 (B), the developing cartridge B1 has been further inserted into the attachment/detachment path X2a from the state illustrated in fig. 21 (a). Fig. 21 (f) is a view seen from the direction of arrow XXIF in fig. 21 (b). This state brings the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180 into contact with the main body side driving member 100. The coupling member 180 is inclined in the direction of the main body side driving member 100 from the state shown in fig. 21 (a) to the state shown in fig. 21 (b), so the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 can be easily engaged. Note that the coupling member 180 maintains the second inclined posture D2 by its guided portion 180D receiving the total force F3 from the coupling lever spring 56 and the coupling spring 185, as described above (see fig. 12 (a) to 12 (c)). In the following description, an angle (inclination angle) formed between the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is θ2a when the coupling member 180 is in the second tilting posture D2 (see fig. 21 (b)).

In the state illustrated in fig. 21 (c), the developing cartridge B1 has been further inserted into the attachment/detachment path X2a from the state illustrated in fig. 21 (B). Fig. 21 (g) is a view seen from the direction of arrow XXIG in fig. 21 (c). Fig. 23 (a) and 23 (b) are sectional views illustrating the relationship of the force at the periphery of the coupling member 180 when the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180 is in contact with the main body side driving member 100.

The rotation restricting portion 55y and the abutment portion 80y of the coupling lever 55 disposed on the driving-side swing guide 80 are in a state of contact. By the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180 coming into contact with the main body side driving member 100, the inclination angle of the coupling member 180 changes from the state shown in fig. 21 (b) to the state shown in fig. 21 (c) to θ2b (+.θ2a). In more detail, the coupling member 180 receives the force F100 from the main body side driving member 100 at the contact portion. In the case where the force F100 is in the opposite direction to the force F3 initially received by the coupling member 180 and is greater than F3, the inclination angle of the coupling member 180 becomes smaller and approaches a direction relatively parallel to the rotation axis L3 of the drive input gear 27. That is, the inclination angle changes centering on the center 180s of the supported portion 180b and becomes θ2b < θ2a (see fig. 15 (a), 21 (b), 21 (c), and 23 (a)). The coupling member 180 is in contact with four parts (the coupling lever 55, the coupling spring 185, the main body side drive member 100, and the phase restricting portion 36kb of the drive side developing bearing 36), which determines the inclination angle (θ2b) thereof.

Fig. 21 (d) illustrates a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is further inserted into the attachment/detachment path X2a from the state illustrated in fig. 21 (c). Fig. 21 (h) is a view seen from the direction of arrow XXIH in fig. 21 (d). The rotation restricting portion 55y of the coupling lever 55 is in contact with the abutment portion 80y of the driving-side swing guide 80. Therefore, in combination with the insertion of the developing cartridge B1 in the direction along the attachment/detachment path X2a, the coupling lever 55 relatively rotates in the direction of the arrow X11B centering on the rotation axis L11 within the developing cartridge B1. At this time, the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 also rotates in the direction of the arrow X11b centering on the rotation axis L11. As a result, the inclination angle θ2c of the coupling member 180 decreases along the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 by receiving the biasing force from the coupling spring 185 (θ2c < θ2b). The coupling member 180 is in contact with three parts (the coupling spring 185, the main body side driving member 100, and the phase restricting portion 36kb of the driving side developing bearing 36), which determines the inclination angle (θ2c) thereof.

Fig. 22 (a) to 22 (d) illustrate a state in which the developing cartridge B1 has been further inserted in the direction of the mounting/dismounting path X2a from the state shown in fig. 21 (d), and fig. 22 (a) to 22 (d) illustrate a state in which the mounting of the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 has been completed.

The coupling member 180 engages the main body side driving member 100, and assumes a reference posture D0 (the inclination angle θ2=0° of the coupling member 180).

The phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is separated from the second inclination restricting portion 36kb2 of the driving side developing bearing 36 at this time, and is not in contact with any portion of the phase restricting portion 36b of the driving side developing bearing 36 (see fig. 22 (c)). The guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is maintained in a state of being completely retracted from the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180. That is, the coupling member 180 is in contact with two parts (the coupling spring 185 and the main body side driving member 100), which determines the inclination angle (θ2) thereof (see the above-described reference posture D0 of the coupling member 180 for details).

< Operation of the coupling member 180 during the Process of removing the developing cartridge B1 >

Next, an operation of the coupling member 180 in the process of removing the developing cartridge B1 from the apparatus main body A1 will be described.

The operation of removing the developing cartridge B1 from the apparatus main body A1 is an operation reverse to the above-described mounting.

First, the user rotates the body cover 94 of the apparatus body A1 in the opening direction D1 (see fig. 17 and 18) and exposes the inside of the apparatus body A1 in the same manner as at the time of installation. The developing cartridge B1 is held in a contact posture in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in contact by the driving-side swing guide 80, the non-driving-side swing guide 81, and a configuration not shown.

The developing cartridge B1 then moves in the removal direction following the mounting/dismounting path XH2 provided to the driving side swing guide 80 and the non-driving side swing guide 81.

When the developing cartridge B1 moves, the abutment portion 80y of the driving-side swinging guide 80, which has been in contact with the rotation restricting portion 55y of the coupling lever 55, moves (from the state shown in fig. 21 (d) to the state shown in fig. 21 (c)). In conjunction with this, the coupling lever 55 rotates in the direction of the arrow X11 about the rotation axis L11. Further movement of the developing cartridge B1 causes the coupling lever 55 to rotate in the direction of the arrow X11, and the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 contacts the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 (the state shown in fig. 21 (c)). The coupling member 180 receiving the biasing force from the coupling lever 55 and the coupling spring 185 starts to move in the direction of the second tilting posture D2 as described above. Finally, the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is restricted by the guide portions 36kb2a, 36kb2b, and 36kb2c of the driving-side developing bearing 36, and engages the second inclination restricting portion 36kb2. The coupling member 180 maintains the state of the second tilting posture D2.

Thereafter, the developing cartridge B1 is removed to the outside of the apparatus main body A1 by moving in a removal direction following an attachment/detachment path XH1 provided to the driving side guide member 92 and the non-driving side guide member 93.

As described above, the developing cartridge B1, which applies the biasing force to the coupling member 180, is provided with the coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56, which enables the coupling member 180 to tilt in the second tilting posture D2. The direction in which the coupling lever 55 tilts the coupling member 180 is the direction of the mounting/dismounting path X2a of the developing cartridge B1, and furthermore, the configuration is such that the rotation operation of the coupling lever 55 occurs in conjunction with the mounting/dismounting operation of the developing cartridge B1 performed by the user.

(7) With respect to the contact/separation lever as the movable member

The driving-side contact/separation lever 70 as a driving-side movable member will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 (a) is an explanatory view of the driving side contact/spacer bar 70 and the peripheral form, and is a sectional view of the developing cartridge B1 as seen from the driving side.

The driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 includes a first contact surface 70a, a second contact surface 70b, a third contact surface 70c, a supported portion 70d, a driving-side restricted contact portion 70e, and a first protruding portion (one-end-side protruding portion) 70f. The supported portion 70d of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is rotatably supported by the driving-side developing bearing 36, the supporting portion 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36. Specifically, the boss of the supporting portion 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36 is fitted to the hole in the supported portion 70d of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70, and therefore the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is supported so as to be rotatable about the boss of the supporting portion 36c (in the directions of arrows N9 and N10). That is, the support portion 36c serves as the rotation center of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70. The supporting portion 36c of the drive-side developing bearing 36 is parallel to the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13. That is, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is rotatable on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13.

Further, at the third contact surface 70c, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is in contact with one end portion 71d of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, which is a compression spring as a first elastic portion, the driving-side developing pressure spring 71. The other end portion 71e of the drive-side developing pressure spring 71 is in contact with the contact surface 36d of the drive-side developing bearing 36. As a result, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 receives a force in the direction of the arrow N16 from the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 at the third contact surface 70 c. The driving-side developing pressure spring 71 biases (urges) the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 in a direction (N16) away from the developing roller 13. In the separate state of the developing cartridge B1, that is, in the state before the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1, the driving-side restriction contact portion 70e contacts the restriction portion 36B provided to the driving-side developing bearing 36.

Now, fig. 37 is a view in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 has been projected on the sectional view of the developing cartridge B1. The supported portion 70d (the rotation center of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70) is at a position overlapping the developer accommodating portion 16a in fig. 37 (i.e., in the developer accommodating portion 16 a). That is, when the developing cartridge B1 is viewed in a direction following an arrow N11 (see fig. 4) parallel to the direction of the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13, the supported portion 70d of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 is in a position overlapping the developer accommodating portion 16a of the developing container 16. Although not shown, the non-drive side contact/spacer bars 72 have the same configuration.

Therefore, the extent to which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 protrude from the developer accommodating portion 16a can be reduced, and the size of the developing cartridge B1 as viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13 can be compact.

The non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 as the non-driving side movable member will be described with reference to fig. 1 (b). Note that the non-driving side has a similar configuration to the driving side.

Fig. 1 (B) is a side view of the developing cartridge B1 as viewed from the non-driving side. Note, however, that some parts are not shown to describe the configuration of the non-drive side contact/spacer bars 72.

As shown in fig. 1 (b), the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 has a non-driving side first contact surface 72a, a non-driving side second contact surface 72b, a non-driving side third contact surface 72c, a supported portion 72d, a non-driving side restricting contact portion 72e, and a non-driving side first protruding portion 72f (other end portion side protruding portion). The supported portion 72d of the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is supported by the supporting portion 46f of the non-driving side developing bearing 46. Specifically, the boss of the supporting portion 46f of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 is fitted to the hole of the supported portion 72d of the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72, and therefore the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 can rotate (the directions of arrows NH9 and NH 10) centering on the boss of the supporting portion 46 f. That is, the supporting portion 46f is the rotation center of the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72. In the present embodiment, the supporting portion 46f of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 is also parallel to the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13. That is, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is rotatable on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13.

Further, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 contacts one end 73e of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 at the non-driving side third contact surface 72c, the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 being a compression spring as a second elastic portion. The other end 73d of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 contacts the contact surface 46g of the non-driving side developing bearing 46. As a result, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 receives the force FH10 in the direction of the arrow NH16 from the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 at the non-driving side third contact surface 72 c. The non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 biases (urges) the non-driving side first contact surface 72a of the non-driving side contact/spacing lever 72 in a direction (arrow NH 16) away from the developing roller 13. In the separate state of the developing cartridge B1, that is, in the state before the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1, the non-driving side regulating contact portion 72e is in contact with the regulating portion 46e provided to the non-driving side developing bearing 46.

The regulating portions 36b and 46e are each configured to partially overlap the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 in the biasing direction of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73, as shown in fig. 1. In other words, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is sandwiched between the restriction portion 36b and the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, and is configured to receive a compression force. That is, the position of the separated portion 70g after the separated portion 70g of the driving side contact/separation lever 70 contacts the restriction portion 36b can be accurately positioned. The same applies to the non-drive side. As a result, the spacing force applied by the spacing mechanism of the apparatus main body, which will be described later, can be received at a highly accurate timing.

The restricting portions 36b and 46e restrict the movement of the respective driving-side contact/spacing bars 70 and non-driving-side contact/spacing bars 72 in the direction away from the developing roller 13. In other words, at the positions where the regulating portions 36b and 46e are provided, they can regulate the movement of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 in the direction away from the developing roller 13. When the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10, the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacing lever 72 are rotated in the rotation directions N10 and NH10, respectively, to be in contact with the regulating portions 36b and 46 e. Therefore, this state causes the spacer force applied by the spacer mechanism of the apparatus main body to be transmitted from the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 to the driving-side developing bearing 36 and the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 of the developing frame via the regulating portion 36b and the regulating portion 46 e.

Fig. 44 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship of the regulating portion 36b, the regulating portion 46e, the driving side contact/spacer lever 70, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72, the driving side developing pressure spring 71, and the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. Fig. 44 is a view from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis L0) of the developing roller 13. The regulating portion 36b is configured to at least partially overlap the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the driving-side third contact surface 70c with respect to a direction N11, the direction N11 being parallel to the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis L0) of the developing roller 13. In the same manner, the regulating portion 46e is configured to at least partially overlap the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 and the non-driving side third contact surface 72c with respect to the direction N11. Therefore, the spacing force applied by the spacing mechanism described later of the apparatus main body can be received at a highly accurate timing.

The regulating portion 36b is also configured to at least partially overlap the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the driving-side third contact surface 70c also with respect to the direction of arrow M2, as shown in fig. 1. In the same manner, the regulating portion 46e is also configured to at least partially overlap the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 and the non-driving side third contact surface 72c with respect to the direction of the arrow M2. However, it is sufficient to note that the above-described placement relationship of the restriction portion 36b and the restriction portion 46e can be achieved with respect to one or the other of the direction of N11 and the direction of arrow M2.

Now, the biasing force F10 of the driving side developing pressure spring 71 and the biasing force FH10 of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 are set to be different. Moreover, the driving side third contact surface 70c and the non-driving side third contact surface 72c are arranged at different angles. This may be appropriately selected in consideration of the performance of the peripheral configuration so that the pressing force of the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 described later is appropriate. Considering a moment M6 (see fig. 27 (a)) occurring at the developing cartridge B1 when a transmission is received from the apparatus main body A1 to rotationally drive the developing roller 13, a relationship of F10 < FH10 is set in the present embodiment.

That is, at the driving side, the coupling member 180 rotates in the direction of arrow X6 as shown in fig. 8 (b). The developing cartridge B1 having received this rotational force swings integrally with the driving-side swinging guide 80 centering on the supporting portion 80g in the direction of the arrow N6 shown in fig. 27 (a) (see fig. 27 (a)). In the case where the rotational force (torque) received by the coupling member 180 from the main body side driving member 100 is sufficiently large, a moment in the direction of the arrow N6 is generated only by the torque of the coupling member 180, thereby generating a force pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10. Therefore, the biasing force F10 of the driving side developing pressure spring 71 can be made smaller than the biasing force FH10 of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73.

Now, a straight line Z30 passing through the center 13Z of the developing roller 13 and parallel to the mounting/dismounting direction X2 (fig. 17) of the developing cartridge B1 to/from the apparatus main body A1 is defined as shown in fig. 1 (a). The driving-side contact/separation lever 70 is arranged on the side of the straight line Z30 opposite to the photosensitive drum 10 (the lower side in the gravitational direction in the present embodiment). With respect to mounting/dismounting the developing cartridge, due to this configuration, the degree of freedom of placement of the drum cartridge C is increased. Specifically, the configuration in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 does not protrude in the direction of the drum cartridge C increases the degree of freedom in placement of the drum cartridge C. It is not necessary for the placement to avoid interference with the protruding drive side contact/spacer bars 70 etc.

The first projecting portion 70f of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 projects farther than the developing container 16, the driving-side developing bearing 36, and the developing side cover 34 when viewed from the driving side of the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction) (see fig. 10 (a)).

That is, the first projection (one end side projection) 70f of the driving side contact/separation lever 70 is exposed from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) when the developing cartridge is viewed from the driving side (one end side) in the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis L0), as shown in fig. 11 (a).

However, when the developing cartridge B1 is viewed in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the rotation axis L0), the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 does not have to be exposed from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34). A configuration is conceivable in which the first projection 70f is not exposed (cannot be seen) so that the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 is hidden behind the developing frame when the developing cartridge B1 is viewed from the driving side or the non-driving side.

That is, it is sufficient that the first projection 70f projects from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) in a section of the developing cartridge (see fig. 1 (a)) which passes through the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 (specifically, the first projection 70 f) and is orthogonal to the developing direction (the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13). According to this configuration, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 (see fig. 27 (a) to 27 (c)) described later can engage the first protruding portion 70f.

In other words, it is sufficient to form the external form of the developing cartridge so that the first projecting portion 70f projects from the developing frame at a position where the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. In the present embodiment, the first protruding portion 70f protrudes with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 36 at a position where the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is arranged. It is also possible to form a configuration in which the first protruding portion 70f is covered by the developing side cover 34, which is further outside than the driving side contact/separation lever 70 in the longitudinal direction, or the first protruding portion 70f is covered by the developing container 16, which is further inside than the driving side contact/separation lever 70 in the longitudinal direction.

In summary, when viewed in cross section at the position of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 in the direction of the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13, the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 protrudes to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge B1.

Further, the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70f (the direction of arrow M2) intersects the direction in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 can move (the moving direction: the directions of arrows N9 and N10) and the direction in which the developing cartridge B1 can move (the moving direction: the direction of arrow N6 (see fig. 27 (a)).

The first protruding portion 70f has a first contact surface 70a in a direction away from the developing roller 13 when viewed from the supported portion 70d of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70. This configuration is such that the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is in contact with the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 when the developing roller 13 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 (see fig. 27 (a)), which will be described in more detail below. Further, a partitioned portion 70g is provided at the tip of the first protruding portion 70f, the partitioned portion 70g intersecting with the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70f (the direction of arrow M2) and protruding at the side toward the developing roller 13. The partitioned portion 70g has a second contact surface 70b. This configuration is such that the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is in contact with the second contact surface 70b of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 when the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 (see fig. 28 (a) to 28 (d)), which will be described in detail below.

Next, the shape of the non-driving side contact/spacer bars 72 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 (b). As described above, in the same manner as the driving side, the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 is arranged on the side opposite to the photosensitive drum 10 (the lower side in the gravitational direction in the present embodiment) across a straight line Z30 passing through the center 13Z of the developing roller 13 and parallel to the attachment/detachment direction X2 in which the developing cartridge B1 is attached/detached to/from the apparatus main body A1. With this configuration, the degree of freedom in placement of the drum cartridge C is increased for mounting/dismounting the developing cartridge. Specifically, the configuration in which the non-driving side contact/spacer bars 72 do not protrude in the direction of the drum cartridge C increases the degree of freedom of placement of the drum cartridge C. It is not necessary for placement to avoid interference with the protruding non-drive side contact/spacer bars 72 etc.

The first protruding portion 72f of the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 protrudes farther outward than the developing container 16 and the non-driving side developing bearing 46 when viewed from the longitudinal direction. The first projection (other end side projection) 72f (see fig. 5) of the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 is exposed from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) when the developing cartridge is viewed in the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis L0) from the non-driving side (other end side).

Note, however, that in the same manner as the first projection 70f, the first projection 72f need not be exposed when the developing cartridge B1 is viewed in the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis L0).

That is, in the same manner as the first projection 70f, it is sufficient that the first projection 72f projects from the developing frame (16, 36, 34) in a section of the developing cartridge that passes through the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 (specifically, the projection 72 f) and is orthogonal to the developing direction (the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13). According to this configuration, a non-driving side device pressing member 151 (see fig. 29 (a)) described later can engage the protruding portion 72f.

In other words, it is sufficient to form the external form of the developing cartridge B1 such that the protruding portion 72f protrudes from the developing frame (from the non-driving side cover 46 in the present embodiment) at a position where the non-driving side contact/spacing lever 72 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. It is also possible to form a configuration in which the developing frame covers the first protruding portion 72f at the outside in the longitudinal direction or at the inside in the longitudinal direction where the non-driving contact/spacer bars 72 are arranged.

In summary, when viewed in cross section at the position of the non-driving side contact/spacer 72 in the direction of the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13, the non-driving side contact/spacer 72 protrudes to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge B1.

Further, the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 72f (the direction of arrow MH 2) intersects with the direction in which the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 is movable (the moving direction: the direction of arrows NH9 and NH 10) and the direction in which the developing cartridge B1 is movable (the moving direction: the direction of arrow M1 (see fig. 27 (a)), the first protruding portion 72f has a first contact surface 72a in a direction away from the developing roller 13 when viewed from the supported portion 72d of the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72, which is configured such that the second contact surface 151B of the non-driving side device pressing member 151 contacts with the first contact surface 72a of the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 when the developing roller 13 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 (see fig. 29), which will be described in more detail below.

Further, a spacer 72g is provided at the tip of the first projection 72f, the spacer 72g intersecting the projection direction (the direction of arrow MH 2) in which the first projection 72f projects from the developing container 16 and projecting toward the developing roller 13 at the side. The spacer 72g has a second contact surface 72b. This configuration is such that the first contact surface 151a of the non-driving side apparatus pressing member 151 contacts the second contact surface 72b of the non-driving side contact/spacing lever 72 when the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 (see fig. 29 (b)), which will be described in detail below.

As described above, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 are provided at both ends of the developing cartridge with respect to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the developing roller 13. The driving-side contact/spacer bars 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer bars 72 may be disposed further outside than the width of a medium for forming an image (such as recording paper, label paper, OHP sheet, etc.). In this case, the driving side contact/separation lever 70 and the like, the medium, and the conveying member and the like provided to the apparatus body to convey the medium may be arranged at the intersecting position when the apparatus body is viewed along the plate whose normal line is the longitudinal direction. As a result, the device main body can be downsized.

Next, the placement of the driving-side contact/spacer bars 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer bars 72 will be described with reference to fig. 24. Fig. 24 is a front view of the developing cartridge B1 as seen from the developing roller 13 side. Note, however, that a sectional view around the supporting portion 36a of the driving-side developing bearing 36 and the supporting portion 46f of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 has been obtained, the supporting portion 36a supporting the driving-side supported portion 13a of the developing roller 13, and the supporting portion 46f supporting the non-driving-side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13.

As described above, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is provided on the driving-side end of the developing cartridge B1 in the longitudinal direction. Further, a non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is provided on a non-driving side end portion of the developing cartridge B1 in the longitudinal direction. The rotational operations of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/separation lever 72 (the directions of arrows N9 and N10 in fig. 1 (a) and the directions of arrows NH9 and NH10 in fig. 1 (b)) can be independently rotated without affecting each other.

Now, the driving-side supported portion 13a of the developing roller 13 is supported by the supporting portion 36a of the driving-side developing bearing 36 longitudinally further outside than the driving-side end portion L13bk of the image forming range L13 b. Further, the non-driving side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13 is supported by a supporting portion 46f of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 longitudinally further outside than the non-driving side end portion L13bh of the image forming range L13 b. The driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 are arranged to at least partially overlap with the range of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13. Further, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 are arranged to be located further outside the image forming range L13b of the developing roller 13.

That is, the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the driving-side supported portion 13a of the developing roller 13 are arranged to at least partially overlap the region L14k, which region L14k is sandwiched between the driving-side end portion L13bk of the image forming range L13b and the driving-side end portion L13ak of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13. Therefore, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the driving-side supported portion 13a of the developing roller 13 are located at nearby positions in the longitudinal direction.

Further, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 and the non-driving side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13 are arranged to at least partially overlap the region L14h, the region L14h being sandwiched between the non-driving side end portion L13bh of the image forming range L13b and the non-driving side end portion L13ah of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13. The non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 and the non-driving side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13 are arranged to satisfy this relationship. Therefore, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 and the driving side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13 are located at nearby positions in the longitudinal direction.

(Description of contact/separation mechanism)

(Development pressurization and development interval Structure of apparatus Main body)

Next, development pressurization and development interval configuration of the apparatus main body will be described.

Fig. 25 (a) is an exploded perspective view of the drive side plate 90 of the apparatus main body A1 when viewed from the non-drive side, and fig. 25 (b) is a side view when viewed from the non-drive side. Fig. 26 (a) is an exploded perspective view of the non-driving side plate 91 of the apparatus main body A1 when viewed from the driving side, and fig. 26 (b) is a side view when viewed from the driving side.

A driving-side guide member 92 and a driving-side swing guide 80 for attaching/detaching the developing cartridge B1 to/from the apparatus main body A1 are provided to the apparatus main body A1 as shown in fig. 25. The driving-side guide member 92 and the driving-side swing guide 80 guide the driving-side guided portion 34d of the developing cartridge B1 when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted in the apparatus main body (see fig. 18).

The driving-side guide member 92 has: a boss-like positioned portion 92d, the positioned portion 92d protruding from the driving-side guide member 92; and a rotation restricted portion 92e supported by a hole-shaped positioning portion 90a provided to the driving side plate 90; and a rotation restriction portion 90b as shown in fig. 25 (a). The drive side guide member 92 is then positioned and secured to the drive side plate 90 by a securing means such as a screw (not shown). The driving-side swing guide 80 is supported by a cylindrical supported protrusion 80g, and the supported protrusion 80g is fitted to a hole-like support portion 90c provided to the driving-side plate 90. Therefore, the driving-side swing guide 80 is supported by the driving-side plate 90 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow N5 and the direction of the arrow N6.

Note that, although it has been described above that the supporting portion 90c provided to the driving side plate 90 is hole-like (concave-like) and the supported protruding portion 80g provided to the driving side swing guide 80 is protruding-like, the concave/protruding relationship thereof is not limited thereto, and the concave/protruding relationship may be reversed.

Further, the driving-side biasing unit 76 as a tension spring is provided between the protruding portion 80h of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the protruding portion 90d of the driving-side plate 90. The driving-side swing guide 80 is biased by the driving-side biasing unit 76 in the direction of arrow N6, which draws the protruding portion 80h of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the protruding portion 90d of the driving-side plate 90 closer together. The apparatus main body A1 is provided with a driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 bringing the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 into contact and spacing them apart. The driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is supported by a base plate (not shown) in a state capable of moving in the direction of the arrow N7 and the direction of the arrow N8.

On the other hand, a non-driving side guide member 93 and a non-driving side swing guide 81 for attaching/detaching the developing cartridge B1 to/from the apparatus main body A1 are provided to the apparatus main body A1 as shown in fig. 26 (a) and 26 (B). The non-driving side guide member 93 and the non-driving side swing guide 81 guide the non-driving side guided portion 46d of the developing cartridge B1 when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted in the apparatus main body (see fig. 18).

The non-driving side guide member 93 has: a boss-like positioned portion 93d, the positioned portion 93d protruding from the non-driving side guide member 93; and a rotation restricted portion 93e, as shown in fig. 26 (a). The positioned portion 93d and the rotation restricted portion 93e are supported by a hole-shaped positioning portion 91a and a rotation restricting portion 91b provided to the non-driving side plate 91. The non-driving side guide member 93 is then positioned and fixed to the non-driving side plate 91 by a fixing means (not shown) such as a screw. The non-driving side swing guide 81 is supported by a cylindrical supported protrusion 81g, which is fitted to a hole-shaped support portion 91c provided to the non-driving side plate 91. Therefore, the non-driving side swing guide 81 is supported by the non-driving side plate 91 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow N5 and the direction of the arrow N6.

Note that, although it has been described above that the supporting portion 91c provided to the non-driving side plate 91 is hole-like (recessed-like), and the supported projecting portion 81 provided to the non-driving side swing guide 81 is projecting-like, the recessed/projecting relationship thereof is not limited thereto, and the recessed/projecting relationship may be reversed.

Further, the non-driving side biasing unit 77 as a tension spring is provided between the protruding portion 81h of the non-driving side swing guide 81 and the protruding portion 91d of the non-driving side plate 91. The non-driving side swing guide 81 is biased in the direction of the arrow N6 by the non-driving side biasing unit 77, which draws in the protruding portion 81h of the non-driving side swing guide 81 and the protruding portion 91d of the non-driving side plate 91.

The apparatus main body A1 is provided with a non-driving side apparatus pressing member 151, which non-driving side apparatus pressing member 151 brings the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 into contact and spaces them apart in the same manner as at the driving side. The non-driving side apparatus pressing member 151 is supported by a base plate (not shown) in a state movable in the direction of the arrow N7 and the direction of the arrow N8.

(Development pressurization and development interval concerning photosensitive Drum)

Next, pressurization and spacing of the developing roller 13 with respect to the photosensitive drum 10 will be described.

< Pressurizing mechanism >

The configuration of the developing roller 13 will be described below.

Fig. 27 (a) is a side view showing a state in which the developing roller 13 of the developing cartridge B1 supported by the driving-side swing guide 80 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Fig. 27 (c) is a detailed view of the periphery of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 in fig. 27 (a), wherein the driving-side swing guide 80 and the developing side cover 34 are not shown for the sake of description.

A so-called contact type developing system is used in this embodiment in which a developing roller 13 carrying a developer t is brought into direct contact with the photosensitive drum 10 to develop an electrostatic latent image in the photosensitive drum 10.

The developing roller 13 is configured by a shaft portion 13e and a rubber portion 13 d. The shaft portion 13e is a conductive elongated cylindrical object of aluminum or the like and its intermediate portion is covered with a rubber portion 13d along its longitudinal direction (see fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b)). Now, the rubber portion 13d covers the shaft portion 13e so that its outer shape is concentric with the shaft portion 13e. The magnet roller 12 is configured in a cylinder of the shaft portion 13e. The rubber portion 13d carries the developer t on its circumferential surface, and a bias is applied to the shaft portion 13e. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 is then developed by bringing the rubber portion 13d in a state of carrying the developer t into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, a configuration in which the developing roller 13 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 at a predetermined contact pressure will be described.

As described above, the driving-side swing guide 80 is supported by the driving-side plate 90 so as to be swingable in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6. The non-driving side swing guide 81 is supported by the non-driving side plate 91 so as to be swingable in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6. The developing cartridge B1 is positioned to the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81 as described above. Accordingly, the developing cartridge B1 is in a state capable of rocking in the apparatus main body A1 in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 (see fig. 29 (a) and 29 (B)).

In this state, the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side device pressing member 150 is in contact with the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70, as shown in fig. 27 (a) and 27 (c). Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is in a state in which it rotates in the direction of arrow N9 in fig. 27 (c) against the biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71. The third contact surface 70c of the driving side contact/spacing lever 70 then compresses the driving side developing pressure spring 71, and receives the biasing force F10a from the driving side developing pressure spring 71. As a result, a moment M10 in the direction of the arrow N10 acts on the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70. At this time, the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side device pressing member 150 contacts the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70. Accordingly, the first contact surface 70a of the driving side contact/spacer bar 70 receives the force F11 from the second contact surface 150b of the driving side device pressing member 150, so that a moment balanced with the moment M10 acts on the driving side contact/spacer bar 70. Therefore, an external force of the force F11 acts on the developing cartridge B1. Further, the driving side biasing unit 76 is provided between the protruding portion 80h of the driving side swing guide 80 and the protruding portion 90d of the driving side plate 90, and is biased in the direction of the arrow N12 as described above. Therefore, an external force of the force F12 in the direction of the arrow N12 acts on the developing cartridge B1 positioned by the driving-side swing guide 80.

That is, the developing cartridge B1 receives the moment M6 in the direction in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 come close (the direction of the arrow N6) by the force F11 from the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the force F12 from the driving-side biasing unit 76. The elastic layer 13d of the developing roller 13 can be pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 with a predetermined pressure by this moment M6.

Next, fig. 29 (a) is a side view showing a state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10, and the developing cartridge B1 supported by the non-driving side swinging guide 81 has the developing roller 13. Fig. 29 (c) is a detailed view of the periphery of the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 in fig. 29 (a), wherein the non-driving side swing guide 81 and the non-driving side developing bearing 46 are partially omitted for the purpose of description.

The configuration of the non-driving side is the same as that of the driving side, and the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 and the non-driving side biasing unit 77 exert external forces FH11 and FH12 on the developing cartridge B1, as shown in fig. 29 (a) and 29 (c). Therefore, the developing cartridge B1 receives a moment (M6) in the direction in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 approach (the direction of the arrow N6), and the elastic layer 13d of the developing roller 13 can be pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 with a predetermined pressure.

Now, as shown in fig. 27 (b), D10 represents a distance from the center of the supported portion 70D to the center of the third contact surface 70c when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 13. In the same manner, D11 denotes a distance from the center of the supported portion 70D to a portion of the first contact surface 70a pressed by the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150. The relationship between the distance D10 and the distance D11 is D10< D11.

Accordingly, a third contact surface 70c of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 is arranged between the supported portion 70d of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 and the first contact surface 70a in the direction of the protruding direction M2, the third contact surface 70c being in contact with one end portion 71d of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71. That is, the relationship between the distance W10 of the supported portion 70d from the third contact surface 70c and the distance W11 of the supported portion 70d from the first contact surface 70a is W10< W11.

Therefore, the relationship between the movement amount W12 of the first contact surface 70a and the movement amount W13 of the third contact surface 70c is w13< W12, where w13=w12× (W10/W11).

Therefore, even in the case where there is an error in the positional accuracy of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, the variation in the compression amount of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is smaller than the error in the positional accuracy of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150. As a result, the accuracy of the pressing force pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 can be improved. The non-driving side has the same configuration and thus can maintain the same advantage.

Further, the driving-side contact/spacer bars 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer bars 72 are arranged to overlap at least partially with the range of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13 in the longitudinal direction, as previously described (see fig. 24). Therefore, the difference in the positions of the first contact surfaces 70a and 72a of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 and the driving-side supported portion 13a and the non-driving-side supported portion 13c of the developing roller 13 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. The driving side contact/spacer bar 70 receives the force F11 (see fig. 27 (a)) and the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 receives the external force FH11 (see fig. 29 (c)). Since the above-described positional difference is reduced, the moment acting on the drive-side developing bearing 36 and the non-drive-side developing bearing 46 can be suppressed. Therefore, the developing roller 13 can be effectively pressed into contact with the photosensitive drum.

Further, as described above, the rotational operations of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 (the directions of arrows N9 and N10 in fig. 27 (a) and the directions of arrows NH9 and NH10 in fig. 29 (c) and 29 (d)) can be independently rotated without being affected by each other. Therefore, when the developing roller 13 is in a state of being pressed against the photosensitive drum 10, the position of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 in the direction of the arrows N7 and N8 (see fig. 25 (a) and 25 (b)) and the position of the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 in the direction of the arrows N7 and N8 (see fig. 26 (b)) can be independently set. Further, it is not necessary to match the rotational directions of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 (the directions of arrows N9 and N10 in fig. 27 (a), and the directions of arrows NH9 and NH10 in fig. 29 (c) and 29 (d)). As a result, the magnitudes and directions of the pressing forces F11 and FH11 that press the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side and the non-driving side can be optimized. Further, even in the case where there is a relative error in the positions of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151, the pressing forces F11 and FH11 have no influence on each other. As a result, the contact pressure of the developing roller 13 to the photosensitive drum 10 can be made highly accurate.

Note that the position of the developing cartridge B1 at which the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can contact to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 will be referred to as a contact position. On the other hand, the position of the developing cartridge B1 where the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are spaced apart will be referred to as a spacing position. By the configuration of the developing cartridge B1, the developing cartridge B1 can be selected between the contact position and the spaced position by a mechanism described later.

< Construction of electric connection between developing cartridge and apparatus Main body by pressing mechanism >

Next, the configuration of the electrical connection between the developing cartridge B1 and the apparatus main body A1 will be described with reference to fig. 38 (a) and 38 (B). When the developing cartridge B1 is in the above-described contact position, the electrode portion 47a of the storage plate 47 of the developing cartridge B1 is in contact with the power supply contact 120A of the apparatus main body A1. The power supply contact 120A has elastic properties, and thus is pressed inward by the electrode portion 47a from the shape 120Aa by a predetermined amount before the developing cartridge B1 is mounted, as shown in fig. 39. Accordingly, the power feeding contact 120A applies the contact pressure FH13 to the developing cartridge B1 in the direction in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 move away from each other. On the other hand, a force FH11 that brings the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 closer to each other acts on the developing cartridge B1, as shown in fig. 38 (a). At this time, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is pressed from the first position in contact with the contact surface 46e of the non-driving side developing bearing 46 to the second position where the projection 72f has been brought closer to the developing roller 13 by the non-driving side device pressing member 151, as shown in fig. 38 (a). The electrode portion 47a is located at a downstream side of the moving direction W from the first position to the second position, wherein the moving direction W intersects with a surface (exposed surface) of the electrode portion 47 a.

Therefore, the force F11 that moves the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 in the direction W and the contact pressure FH13 have opposite force components. Now, a certain level or higher of contact pressure FH13 is required to stabilize the electrical contact between the electrode portion 47a and the power supply contact 120A. In addition to the elastic lamination for pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 in a stable manner, the present configuration also sets the magnitude of the force FH11 of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 in consideration of the contact pressure F13. That is, the contact pressure FH13 that stabilizes the electrical contact can be ensured by the force FH11 and the developing roller 13 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10. Accordingly, the electrode portion 47a and the power supply contact 120A are electrically connected, thus enabling communication between a circuit board (not shown) of the apparatus main body and the electrode portion 47 a.

Now, a case can be conceived in which the external force FH12 of the non-driving-side biasing unit 77 is raised to ensure the contact pressure FH3. However, in this case, it is necessary to increase the biasing force of the non-driving side pressing spring 85 so that the developing cartridge B1 does not come loose from the non-driving side swinging guide 81 (see fig. 26 (a) and 26 (B)). On the other hand, when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the non-driving side swing guide 81, the user's operation force presses the non-driving side pressing spring 85 downward as described above. Therefore, the user needs to install the developing cartridge B1 with a larger force. As described above, an attempt to ensure the contact pressure FH13 by the force FH12 of the non-driving side biasing unit 77 may result in poor user operability. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, by securing the contact pressure FH13 by the force FH11 of the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73, it is made possible to position the developing cartridge B1 without deteriorating the user operability.

Moreover, the relationship between the electrode portion 47a and the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 in the present embodiment can be described in the following manner. For example, at the contact portion of the power supply contact 120A along the normal direction Z of the electrode portion 47a, the distance between the electrode portion 47a and the non-driving side contact/spacer 72 will be referred to as L1 at the first position and L2 at the second position, as shown in fig. 38 (b). The electrode portion 47a at this time is in a position to hold L2 < L1. Therefore, the contact pressure FH13 can be ensured using the force that moves the non-driving side contact/spacer rod 72 from the first position to the second position.

Further, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72, the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73, and the memory plate 47 are all attached to the non-driving side developing bearing 46 in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 38 (a). That is, the position of the electrode portion 47a as the operation portion for the contact pressure F13 and the position of the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 as the operation portion for the force FH11 are arranged in the same plane orthogonal to the axis L0 of the developing roller 13. In other words, the electrode portion 47a and the non-driving side contact/spacer 72 at least partially overlap with each other with respect to the direction of the axis L0 of the developing roller 13. Therefore, the posture of the developing cartridge B1 can be further stabilized because the moment between the contact pressure F13 and the force FH11, which has the rotation axis T in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the developing roller, can be reduced.

Moreover, the storage plate 47 is not attached to the driving side but to the bearing 46 at the non-driving side. If the storage plate 47 is provided on the driving side, the storage plate 47 may be affected by the driving force acting on the coupling member 180. However, the storage plate 47 is provided to the non-driving side developing bearing 46 in the present embodiment, and is therefore not susceptible to the driving force, so that the contact pressure FH13 is stabilized.

< Spacing mechanism >

Fig. 28 (a) is an explanatory diagram describing the state of the developing cartridge B1 at the transition from the contact state between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 to the spaced state. Fig. 28 (c) is a detailed view of the periphery of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 in fig. 28 (a), in which the driving-side swing guide 80 and the developing side cover 34 are not shown for the description.

Fig. 28 (B) is an explanatory diagram explaining a spaced state of the developing cartridge B1 in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart. Fig. 28 (d) is a detailed view of the periphery of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 in fig. 28 (b), wherein the driving-side swing guide 80 and the developing side cover 34 are not shown for the purpose of description.

Now, in the case of the contact developing system as in the present embodiment, there is a concern that the rubber portion 13b of the developing roller 13 may be deformed if the state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 as shown in fig. 27 (a) is always maintained. Therefore, the developing roller 13 is preferably spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 when there is no development. That is, a state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 as shown in fig. 27 (a) and a state in which the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 as shown in fig. 28 (b) are preferable.

A partitioned portion 70g protruding in the direction of the developing roller 13 is provided to the driving-side contact/partition lever 70. The partitioned portion 70g has a configuration capable of engaging a first contact surface 150a provided to the driving-side device pressing member 150 provided to the device main body A1. Further, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 has a configuration capable of moving in the direction of the arrow N7 and the direction of the arrow N8 by a driving force from a motor not shown.

Next, an operation of the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 to transition to the spaced state will be described. In the contact state of contact between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 shown in fig. 27 (a), the first contact surface 150a and the partitioned portion 70g are spaced apart in a state where there is a gap of a distance δ5 therebetween.

On the other hand, fig. 28 (a) illustrates a state in which the driving-side device pressing member 150 is moved by a distance δ6 in the direction of the arrow N8, in which the contact between the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 and the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side device pressing member 150 is separated. At this time, the first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 rotates in the direction of the arrow N10 centering on the supported portion 70d by the biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, and the driving-side restricting contact portion 70e of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 contacts the restricting portion 36b of the driving-side bearing member 36. Thus, the drive side contact/spacer bar 70 and the drive side bearing member 36 are positioned. Fig. 28 (b) illustrates a state in which the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is moved by a distance δ7 in the direction of the arrow N8. The driving-side device pressing member 150 moving in the direction of the arrow N8 brings the separated surface 70g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 into contact with the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side device pressing member 150. At this time, the driving-side regulating contact portion 70e of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 contacts the regulating portion 36B of the driving-side bearing member 36, so the developing cartridge B1 moves in the direction of the arrow N8. Now, the developing cartridge B1 is positioned to the driving-side swinging guide 80, which driving-side swinging guide 80 is supported by the driving-side plate 90 so as to be slidable in the direction of the arrow N3 and the direction of the arrow N4 and swingable in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6, which will be described later with reference to fig. 41 (a) to 41 (d). Accordingly, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moves in the direction of the arrow N8 so that the developing cartridge B1 swings in the direction of the arrow N5. At this time, the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart by a gap δ8.

The configuration of the non-driving side is also the same as that of the driving side in which, as shown in fig. 29 (b) and 29 (d), in a state where the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 and the non-driving side device pressing member 151 are in contact, the non-driving side device pressing member 151 is moved by a distance δh7 in the direction of the arrow NH 8. Accordingly, the developing cartridge B1 has a configuration rotated in the direction of the arrow N5 about the supported protruding portion 81g of the swing guide 81, in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart from each other by a distance δ8.

Accordingly, the contact state and the spacing state of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are selected as necessary by the positions of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 provided to the apparatus main body A1.

The driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 protrudes from the developing container 16 to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge B1 as seen at a cross section at the position of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and as seen from the rotation axis L0 of the developing roller 13, as shown in fig. 27 (a). Thus, engagement of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is facilitated. This configuration also enables a part of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 to be used to move the developing cartridge B1 between the contact position and the spacing position. The same applies to the non-driving side.

When the contact state of the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 shown in fig. 27 (a) is shifted to the spaced state of the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 shown in fig. 28 (B), the driving-side swinging guide 80 and the developing cartridge B1 are rotated integrally. Accordingly, the state in which the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is retracted from the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 is maintained (fig. 28 (b)).

Further, when the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in the spaced state shown in fig. 28 (b), the guided portion 180d of the coupling member 180 and the guide portion 185d of the coupling spring 85 are in contact. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 receives the force F1 and assumes the first tilting posture D1 described above.

As described above, the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer bar 72 each have a pressure-bearing surface (first contact surfaces 70a and 72 a) and a separated surface (second contact surfaces 70g and 72 g). The pressing surfaces (second contact surfaces 150b and 151 b) and the separating surfaces (150 a and 151 a) of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 act on the pressing surface and the separated surface, respectively. Accordingly, the contact state and the spacing state of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can be selected as required by the individual components of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacing lever 72 (see fig. 27 (a), 28 (a), and 28 (b)). As a result, the configuration of the developing cartridge B1 can be simplified. Further, the contact state and the interval state can be controlled by the individual members, and therefore, for example, the timing of transition from the contact state to the interval state can be set with high accuracy.

The driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacing lever 72 are independently provided at the end of the developing cartridge B1 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in fig. 24. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the contact/spacer lever in the entire longitudinal direction, and therefore the size of the developing cartridge B1 (the region Y1 in fig. 24) can be reduced. Therefore, the region Y1 can be used as a space for the component parts of the apparatus main body A1, and thus the apparatus main body A1 can also be downsized.

< Movement of coupling Member combined with operation from separated State to contact State >

Next, the movement of the coupling member 180 in combination with the contact operation and the spacing operation of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 will be described with reference to fig. 30 and 31.

First, a disengaging operation of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 when the developing cartridge B1 is moved from the spaced state to the contact state will be described.

Fig. 30 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the engaged state of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 in the development contact state and the development interval state.

Fig. 31 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the engaged state of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 in the development contact state and the development interval state when viewed from the side at the driving side.

At the time of image formation, the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 is pressed by the biasing force F11 of the driving side device pressing member 150, as shown in fig. 31 (a). The developing roller 13 of the developing cartridge B1 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in a developing contact state and are in contact with each other at a predetermined pressure. The coupling member 180 is in the reference posture D0 as shown in fig. 30 (a). At this time, the developing cartridge B1 is at the engaged position where the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying portion 100a of the main body side driving member 100 are engaged. The developing cartridge B1 is in a state in which drive can be transmitted from the main body side driving member 100 to the coupling member 180 by a force from a rotary motor (not shown).

Further, the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is maintained in a state of being completely retracted from the guided portion 180b of the coupling member 180 (see fig. 11 (a) to 11 (c)). The reason is that the rotation restricting portion 55y of the coupling lever 55 abuts against the abutting portion 80y of the driving-side swing guide 80 and restricts rotation in the direction of the arrow X11 about the rotation axis L11 thereof, as described above (for this reason, see also fig. 11 (a) to 11 (c)).

Next, the posture of the coupling member 180 during the movement of the developing cartridge B1 from the developing contact state to the developing interval state will be described.

As shown in fig. 31 (b), when the image formation is ended, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 (not shown) move in the direction of the arrow N8. When the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moves in the direction of the arrow N8, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow N10 by the biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 (see fig. 28 (b)). From a state in which the driving-side regulating contact portion 70e of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the positioning portion 36b of the driving-side developing bearing 36 are in contact, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is further moved in the direction of the arrow N8. Then the developing cartridge B1 integrated with the driving-side swing guide 80 rotates in the direction of the arrow N5 centering on the supported protruding portion 80g of the driving-side swing guide 80. The same applies to the non-driving side in which the developing cartridge B1 integrated with the non-driving side swing guide 81 rotates in the direction of the arrow N5 centering on the supported protrusion 81g (not shown) of the non-driving side swing guide 81. This state is a development interval state in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart. The developing cartridge B1 and the driving-side swing guide 80 move integrally, and therefore the guide portion 55e of the coupling lever 55 is also maintained in a state of being fully retracted from the guided portion 180B of the coupling member 180 in the state shown in fig. 31 (B). This is because the abutting portion 80y is formed integrally with the driving-side swing guide 80 as described above (see fig. 20 (b)). On the other hand, the biasing force of the coupling spring 185 acts on the coupling member 180. Therefore, in combination with the movement of the developing cartridge B1 from the contact state to the spaced state, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 gradually inclines from the state of the reference posture D0 to the direction of the first inclined posture D1, as shown in fig. 30 (B). The developing cartridge B1 is then further rotated in the direction of the arrow N5, and when the state in fig. 31 (c) is reached, the tilting movement of the coupling member 180 is ended. At this time, the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180 engages the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1 of the drive side developing bearing 36 (see fig. 11 (b)), and the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is held in the first inclination posture D1. As described above, the first tilting posture D1 of the coupling member 180 is a posture in which the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 faces the direction of the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1. In the state shown in fig. 31 (c), the developing cartridge B1 is in the disengaged position in which the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying portion 100a of the main body side driving member 100 have been disengaged. Therefore, this state is such that the force of the motor (not shown) is not drivingly transmitted from the main body side driving member 100 to the coupling member.

The state shown in fig. 31 (a) is the posture of the developing cartridge B1 at the time of image formation in the present embodiment. The coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 are engaged, and a driving force is input from the apparatus main body A1. This configuration is such that when the developing cartridge B1 is moved from the state shown in fig. 31 (a) to the state shown in fig. 31 (B) and 31 (c), the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 are disengaged. In other words, this configuration makes the drive input from the apparatus main body A1 to the developing cartridge B1 cut off in the process of the developing cartridge B1 moving from the contact state to the spaced state. With the developing cartridge B1, the main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 is rotating while the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart. This means that this configuration enables the developing roller 13 to be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 while rotating.

< Movement of coupling Member combined with operation from contact State to separation State >

Next, the engaging operation of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 when the developing cartridge B1 is moved from the contact state to the spaced state will be described.

The development contact operation of the developing cartridge B1 is opposite to the above-described development interval operation. In the state shown in fig. 31 (B), the developing cartridge B1 is in the disengaged position in which the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying portion 100a of the main body side driving member 100 are disengaged. In the state shown in fig. 31 (b), the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 move in the direction of the arrow N7 from the state shown in fig. 31 (c). The developing cartridge B1 and the driving-side swinging guide 80 integrally rotate in the direction of the arrow N6 due to the biasing force of the above-described driving-side biasing unit 76 (see fig. 25 (a), 25 (B), 27 (a), and 27 (c)). The same applies to the non-drive side. Therefore, the developing cartridge B1 moves from the spaced state to the contact state. Fig. 30 (B) is an intermediate stage of transition of the developing cartridge B1 from the spaced state to the contact state. This is also a state in which the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180 is in contact with the main body side driving member 100. Specifically, the concave conical portion 180g arranged on the inner side of the circular portion 180f of the coupling member 180 is in contact with the protruding portion 100g arranged on the axial end of the main body side driving member 100. The rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined in the direction of the main body side driving member 100 from the state shown in fig. 30 (c) to the state shown in fig. 30 (b), so that the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 can be easily engaged.

Further movement of the driving-side device pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side device pressing member 151 in the direction of arrow N7 from the state shown in fig. 30 (b) completes engagement of the coupling member 180 and the main body-side driving member 100, as shown in fig. 30 (a). At this time, the developing cartridge B1 is located in the engaged position in which the rotational force receiving portion 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying portion 100a of the main body side driving member 100 are engaged, and the coupling member 180 assumes the reference posture D0. The process of the coupling member 180 transitioning from the first inclined posture D1 to the reference posture D0 is the same as the process of the coupling member 180 transitioning from the second inclined posture D2 to the reference posture D0 when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1 (see fig. 21 (a) to 21 (h)).

In the present embodiment, in the state shown in fig. 31 (b), before the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 start to be engaged, the main body side driving member 100 is rotated by the driving signal from the apparatus main body A1. Therefore, this configuration causes the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 to engage in the midway of the movement of the developing cartridge B1 from the state shown in fig. 31 (c) to the state shown in fig. 31 (B) and 31 (a), thus inputting the drive to the developing cartridge B1. In other words, this configuration is such that the drive is input from the apparatus main body A1 to the developing cartridge B1 in the process of the developing cartridge B1 moving from the spaced state to the contact state. This is because this configuration enables the coupling member 180 to move in the direction N9, which is the moving direction of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/separation lever 72 (see fig. 27 (a) to 27 (c)). The main body side driving member 100 of the apparatus main body A1 is rotating before the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in contact. As a result, this configuration enables the developing roller 13 to contact the photosensitive drum 10 while rotating. Therefore, the speed difference between the circumferential surfaces of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can be reduced as the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 come into contact, and therefore the abrasion of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can be reduced.

In the case where the motor provided in the apparatus main body A1 is separate, it is necessary that the clutch mechanism cuts off transmission of the rotational force to the developing roller 13 and at the same time transmits the rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10. That is, it is necessary to provide a clutch mechanism capable of selectively cutting off the transmission at the transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force from the motor to the developing roller 13. However, in the present embodiment, the engagement and disengagement of the coupling member 180 and the main body side driving member 100 is selected in the course of the movement of the developing cartridge B1 from the contact state to the spaced state or from the spaced state to the contact state. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a clutch structure to the apparatus main body A1 or the developing cartridge B1, and therefore the developing cartridge B1 and the apparatus main body A1 which are relatively inexpensive and occupy a small space can be realized.

(Contact of separated surface of drive side contact/separation rod)

The driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 has a separated surface 70g, and the separated surface 70g protrudes from the tip end portion 70p toward the developing roller 13 side along the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70f, as shown in fig. 41 (a). From another perspective, the tip of the first projection 70f has a shape curved toward the developing roller 13 side, and a separated surface 70g is formed on the curved tip portion.

Fig. 41 (a) to 41 (d) are explanatory views of whether or not there is a protruding separated surface 70 g. Fig. 41 (a) illustrates the present embodiment having the separated surface 70g, the separated surface 70g protruding from the tip end portion 70p toward the developing roller 13 side along the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70 f. Fig. 41 (b) is an enlarged view of the periphery of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 in fig. 41 (a). Fig. 41 (c) illustrates an example of the separated surface 470g that does not protrude from the tip end portion 70p to the developing roller 13 side along the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70 f. Fig. 41 (d) is an enlarged view of the periphery of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 470 in fig. 41 (c).

The separated surface 70g of the driving side contact/spacing lever 70 contacts the first contact surface 150a of the driving side device pressing member 150, and the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are separated by a gap of δ8, as shown in fig. 41.

The point at which the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 contacts the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side device pressing member 150 at the separated surface 70g is a contact point 70q, as shown in fig. 41 (a) and 41 (b). The point at which the driving-side device pressing member 150 contacts the separated surface 70g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 at the first contact surface 150a is a contact point 150q.

As shown in fig. 41 (b), the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side device pressing member 150 applies the spacing force F17 to the separated surface 70g of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 through the contact point 150q, as shown in fig. 41 (b). Accordingly, the separated surface 70g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 receives the reaction force F18 at the contact point 70 q. At this time, the reaction force F18 is divided into a force component F19 parallel to the first contact surface 150a and a force component F20 perpendicular to the first contact surface 150 a.

The direction of the force component F19 is a direction parallel to the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, and thus the separated surface 70g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 receives the force in the direction of the force component F19 while being in contact with the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150.

As shown in fig. 41 (a), the developing cartridge B1 is positioned to a driving-side swing guide 80, which driving-side swing guide 80 is capable of swinging in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 centering on a supported projection 80g at a driving-side plate (not shown). Further, the driving-side swing guide 80 is supported by a driving-side plate (not shown) so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow N3 and the direction of arrow N4 when the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10, so that the axis of the developing roller 13 can be corrected to be parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum 10. This also applies to the non-driving side, and therefore the developing cartridge B1 can rotate in the directions of the arrows N5 and N6 centering on the supported projection 80g and can slide in the directions of the arrows N3 and N4.

Further, the position of the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 is determined by the driving side limit contact portion 70e of the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 and the limit portion 36b of the driving side bearing member 36 being in contact as described above. Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 receives the force component F19, thereby causing the developing cartridge B1 to attempt to rotate in the direction of the arrow N5 and slide in the direction of the arrow N11 centering on the supported projection 80 g.

Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 tries to move in the direction of the force component F19. The moving direction is a moving direction in which the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 moves toward the base side of the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side device pressing member 150, and is a direction in which the driving-side device pressing member 150 engages the driving-side contact/separation lever 70.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 41 (d), the first contact surface 450a of the driving-side device pressing member 450 applies the spacing force F21 to the separated surface 470g of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 470 through the contact point 450 q. Thus, the separated face 470g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 470 receives the reaction force F22 at the contact point 470 q. At this time, the reaction force F22 is divided into a force component F23 parallel to the separated surface 470g and a force component F24 perpendicular to the separated surface 470g.

The positions of the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 and the driving side bearing member 436 are determined by the driving side restraining contact portion 470e of the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 and the restraining portion 436b of the driving side bearing member 436 contacting. Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 470 receives the force component F23, thereby causing the developing cartridge B1 to attempt to rotate in the direction of the arrow N5 and slide in the direction of the arrow N4 centering on the supported projection 80 g.

Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 470 tries to move in the direction of the force component F23. Accordingly, the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 is in contact with the first contact surface 450a of the driving side device pressing member 450 at the tip portion 470p side along the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 470f, and the amount of engagement of the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 with respect to the driving side device pressing member 450 is reduced.

Therefore, it is necessary to increase the protruding amount of the first protruding portion 470F of the driving-side contact/separation lever 470 by an amount equal to the moving amount in the direction of the force component F23, thereby requiring space.

As is clear from the above, in the case where the surface to be separated 70g is provided, the engagement amount can be set smaller, the surface to be separated 70g protruding from the tip portion 70p toward the developing roller 13 side along the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 70 f. That is, in this case, the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 engages the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 to a greater extent when the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 than in the case where the protruding separated surface 70g is not provided. As a result, even if the engagement amount is set to be small, the engaged state in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is engaged to the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 can be maintained. Reducing the amount of engagement of the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 and the driving side apparatus pressing member 150 results in a reduction in the size of the developing cartridge B1.

< Effect of placement of drive-side contact/separation lever 70, drive-side developing pressure spring 71, and regulating portion 36b of drive-side developing bearing 36 >)

This configuration causes the biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 to be generated by compressing the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 between the third contact surface 70c of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the contact surface 36d of the driving-side developing bearing 36, which has been described (see fig. 1 (a) and 1 (b)). The same applies to the non-driving side.

Specifically, the compression is such that when development pressurization is performed, the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are brought into contact with a biasing force F10a generated by the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 rotating in the direction of the arrow N9 centering on the supporting portion 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36 (see fig. 27 (c)).

Further, when the development interval is performed, the driving-side contact/interval lever 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow N10 centering on the boss of the supporting portion 36c of the driving-side development bearing 36 using the biasing force F10, so that the restricting contact portion 70e of the driving-side contact/interval lever 70 is brought into contact with the restricting portion 36b of the driving-side development bearing 36. This limits the position of the drive side contact/spacer bar 70. Further, the driving-side device pressing member 150 moves in the direction of the arrow N8, and the second contact surface 70b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 contacts the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side device pressing member 150. This configuration makes it possible to space the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 apart (see fig. 28 (b)). That is, when the development interval is implemented, this configuration makes it possible to restrict the position of the driving-side contact/interval lever 70 using the driving-side development pressure spring 71 for development pressurization.

In particular, the developing cartridge B1 has a configuration detachably mountable to the apparatus main body A1, and therefore it is preferable to accurately position the position of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 so that the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 (see fig. 25 (B)) are engaged in a certain manner. This is because in the case where the positioning accuracy of the driving side contact/spacer bar 70 is poor, means such as the following is required to be adopted to engage the driving side contact/spacer bar 70 and the driving side apparatus pressing member 150.

1. A larger distance (gap) is provided between the first contact surface 150a and the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150.

2. A smaller distance (thickness) is provided between the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70.

However, these means increase the amount of movement of the driving-side device pressing member 150 of the device body A1 in the N8 and N9 directions, thereby causing the device body A1 to be larger in size.

According to the present configuration, this configuration makes it possible to restrict the position of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 at the time of mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body A1 using the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 used at the time of performing the developing pressurization. This contributes to a reduction in the size of the apparatus main body A1 and also enables control of the timing at which the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are spaced apart and the amount by which the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 with good accuracy.

Moreover, according to the present configuration, the configuration enables positioning of the position of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 at the time of implementing the development interval with good accuracy using the driving-side development pressure spring 71 for development pressurization at the time of installing the development cartridge B1 and at the time of implementing the development interval. Further, the driving side developing pressure spring 71 for performing the developing pressurization serves to restrict the position of the driving side contact/spacer lever 70, and thus a new part is not particularly required.

The first contact surface 70a receiving the force to bring the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 and the second contact surface 70b receiving the force for spacing are both provided on separate parts, which are the driving side contact/spacing bars 70. Integrating the functions in this way enables the number of parts of the developing cartridge B1 to be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the driving-side contact/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacing lever 72 receive force from the pressing member provided to the image forming apparatus main body, thereby enabling the developing roller to contact and be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum while maintaining the space. This reduces the sizes of the image forming apparatus and the developing cartridge. Further, it is possible to suppress an increase in pressure applied to an electrode portion of the developing cartridge, which is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus main body, when the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum. By reducing the load applied to the electrode portion, the durability of the electrode portion is improved. The strength of the electrode portion can be suppressed, and therefore the cost of the developing cartridge having the electrode portion and the image forming apparatus having the developing cartridge can be reduced.

The separation of the developing cartridge B1 and the drum cartridge C has been described in the present embodiment. That is, the configuration is such that in the developing device, the photosensitive drum 10 is formed into a cartridge separated from the developing cartridge B1 and is attached to/detached from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. However, the application of the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration.

The configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to, for example, a configuration in which the developing cartridge B1 and the drum cartridge C are not separated. A configuration may be made in which a process cartridge is mounted to/dismounted from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, which is configured by rotatably coupling a developing cartridge B1 (developing device) to a drum cartridge C1. That is, a configuration is conceivable in which a cartridge (process cartridge) having the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing device has the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 disclosed in the present embodiment.

< Relationship between the coupling member 180, the driving-side contact/separation lever 70, and the non-driving-side contact/separation lever 72 >

The coupling member 180 has a configuration in which it is movable at least in the direction of N9 (see fig. 27 (c)), which is the moving direction of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/separation lever 72. Therefore, when the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer bar 72 are moved in the directions N9 and N10, smooth behavior can be achieved without affecting the engagement between the coupling member 180 and the main body-side driving member 100.

Further, an arrangement is made wherein the direction of N6, which is the direction in which the developing roller 13 contacts the photosensitive drum 10, is the same direction as N13 (direction X6 in fig. 8 (b)) which is the rotational direction of the coupling member 180, as shown in fig. 27 (a). According to the present configuration, the couple received by the coupling member 180 from the main body side driving member 100 acts as a moment that causes the developing cartridge B1 to rotate in the direction N6 centering on the supported projection 80 g. A moment in the direction N6 acts on the developing roller 13 as a pressing force pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10.

Assuming that the rotational direction of the coupling member 180 is the direction opposite to the direction N6, the moment will act in the direction in which the developing roller 13 escapes from the photosensitive drum 10 due to the rotational force of the coupling member 180 (the direction N5 in fig. 27 (a)), and thus the pressurizing force will be lost. However, the loss of the pressurizing force does not easily occur in the present embodiment.

Also, a moment in the direction N6 generated by the rotational force of the coupling member 180 is generated from the negative torque required to rotate the coupling member 180. The load torque of the cartridge varies due to the part size and durability, and thus the moment in the direction N6 generated by the rotational force of the coupling member 180 also varies. On the other hand, the present embodiment is also a configuration in which the contact/spacer bars 70 and 72 receive force from the apparatus main body A1 and bring the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Since the pressing force of the contact/spacer bars 70 and 72 in the direction N6 is specified only as the size of the part, the durability does not change.

Therefore, in order to bring the developing roller 13 into more stable contact with the photosensitive drum 10, the following arrangement is preferable. That is, the moment in the direction N6 due to the rotational force of the coupling member 180 is preferably smaller than the moment in the direction N6 due to the contact/separation levers 70 and 72 receiving force from the apparatus body A1. For this reason, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 27 (a), the distance connecting the supported protrusion 80g and the coupling member 180 is shorter than the distance between the supported protrusion 80g of the driving side swing guide 80 and the driving side contact/separation lever 70. According to this configuration, the moment in the direction N6 generated due to the rotational force of the coupling member 180 can be effectively used as the pressing force of the developing roller 13. Further, this configuration suppresses the influence due to the torque fluctuation in the direction N6 occurring due to the rotational force of the coupling member 180, and thus enables the developing roller 13 to be brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 in a more stable manner.

Further, as shown in fig. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the direction parallel to the straight line Z31 is the direction N14 (first direction), and the straight line Z31 connects the rotation center 13Z of the developing roller 13 and the rotation center of the coupling member 180 when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13. When the developing frame is viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13, the developing roller 13 is arranged on one end side of the developing frame with respect to the direction N14, and the first protruding portion 70f (particularly the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70 b) of the driving side contact/separation lever 70 is arranged at the other end side of the developing frame. That is, the first projection 70f (particularly, the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70 b) is located at a position slightly apart from the developing roller 13.

Therefore, a space for disposing a member, such as the coupling member 180, adapted to be located in the vicinity of the developing roller 13 can be ensured at one end side of the developing frame. This improves the degree of freedom of layout of the components suitable for being located in the vicinity of the developing roller 13 in the developing cartridge B1. Therefore, when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13, the coupling member 180 is arranged at a position closer to the developing roller 13 than the first protruding portion 70f (the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70 b) with respect to the direction N14 in the present embodiment.

The drive side developing bearing 36 also has a recording medium contact portion 36m, which recording medium contact portion 36m is capable of contacting the recording medium 2 in a state in which the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the apparatus main body A1, the recording medium 2 being conveyed toward the transfer nip portion 6a in the conveyance guide 3d in the inside of the apparatus main body A1.

This will be described. As described above, the position of the first projection 70f (particularly, the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70 b) is arranged at a position distant from the developing roller 13 with respect to the direction N14. Accordingly, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 can be disposed at a position apart from the developing roller 13 in the apparatus main body A1, so that the developing roller side portion of the developing cartridge B1 in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 can be disposed in the vicinity of the conveying guide 3 d. This makes it possible to reduce the dead space between the developing cartridge B1 and the conveying guide 3d within the apparatus main body A1.

Therefore, the developing cartridge B1 is arranged near the conveying guide 3d in the present embodiment. Therefore, when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13, the recording medium contact portion 36m is arranged on the drive side developing bearing 36 at a position closer to the developing roller 13 with respect to the direction N14 than the first protruding portion 70f (the first contact surface 70a and the second contact surface 70 b).

< Details of developing side cover 34 >

Fig. 45 (a) to 46 (b) are diagrams illustrating the developing side cover 34 in detail. Fig. 45 (a) is a front view of the developing side cover 34 viewed from the outside, fig. 45 (b) is a rear view of the developing side cover 34 viewed from the inside, and fig. 46 (a) and 46 (b) are perspective views viewed from the front and rear, respectively.

The developing side cover 34 is one frame member constituting a developing frame of the developing cartridge B1. The developing side cover 34 is constituted by a plate-like front portion 34e and a rear portion 34f, the rear portion 34f being the rear side thereof. The edge of the front portion 34e has an edge portion 34g, and the edge portion 34g surrounds a rear portion 34f provided so as to protrude from the front portion 34 e.

A hole 34a is provided through the front portion 34e and the rear portion 34f, and in the hole 34a, the coupling member 180 is located on the inner side.

A first projection (positioning portion) 34b is provided on a side portion of the hole 34a protruding beyond the front portion 34e. A second projection (rotation stopper) 34c is similarly provided on the side of the first projection (positioning portion) 34b, the second projection 34c being larger than the first projection (positioning portion) 34b in the radial direction and also projecting beyond the front portion 34e. The second protruding portion (rotation stopper) 34c is located at a position farther from the hole 34a than the first protruding portion (positioning portion) 34 b.

The connection portion 34k is provided between the first protrusion (positioning portion) 34b and the second protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c, connecting the first protrusion 34b and the second protrusion 34c, wherein the first groove 341 is provided between the connection portion 34k and the front portion 34 e.

A third projection (spring supporting portion) 34h is provided between the hole 34a and the first projection (positioning portion) 34 b. The third projection (spring supporting portion) 34h is lower in height than the first projection (positioning portion) 34b and the second projection (rotation stopper) 34c.

Opposite sides of the third protruding portion (spring supporting portion) 34h across the hole 34a are second grooves (34 o) where the grooves extend in the circumferential direction. The second groove (34 o) guides the coupling spring 185.

A fourth projection (34 p) constituted by ridges 34p1 and 34p2 is provided below the first projection (positioning portion) 34 b. Ridges 34p1 and 34p2 cross each other, with the intersection angle forming an obtuse angle. The fourth projection (34 p) is lower in height than the first projection (positioning portion) 34b and the second projection (rotation stopper) 34c.

An arc-shaped groove 34q passing through the front portion 34e and the rear portion 34f is provided above the first protruding portion (positioning portion) 34b and the second protruding portion (rotation stopper) 34 c. The arc-shaped groove 34q is provided to expose the rotation restricting portion 55y of the coupling lever 55 to the outside (see fig. 12 (a)).

The developing side cover 34 also has a cover portion 34t. The cover 34t covers at least a part of the spring 71 and at least one of the driving-side contact/spacer bars 70 so as not to be exposed to the outside in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 (the direction of the rotation axis of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70). Therefore, the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the spring 71 can be prevented from receiving external impact, and the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 and the spring 71 can be prevented from being separated from the driving-side developing bearing 36. Note that it is sufficient that the cover portion 34t covers at least a part of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 or at least a part of the spring 71 without being exposed to the outside in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 (the direction of the rotation axis of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70).

Therefore, downsizing is enabled by combining various functional portions in the developing side cover 34. It is also possible to prevent the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 from external impact.

< Details of drive side developing bearing 36 >

Fig. 47 and 48 are diagrams illustrating the drive side developing bearing 36 in detail. Fig. 47 (a) is a front view of the drive side developing bearing 36 viewed from the outside, fig. 47 (b) is a rear view of the drive side developing bearing 36 viewed from the inside, and fig. 48 (a) and 48 (b) are perspective views when viewed from the front and rear, respectively.

The drive-side developing bearing 36 is a frame member separate from the developing side cover 34, and the developing side cover 34 constitutes a developing frame of the developing cartridge B1. The drive side developing bearing 36 is constituted by a plate-like front portion 36f and a rear portion 36g on the rear side thereof. The edge of the front portion 36f has an edge rear portion 36h, which edge rear portion 36h surrounds a rear portion 36g provided to protrude from the front portion 36 f.

The aperture 36a is disposed through the front portion 36f and the rear portion 36g. The developing roller 13 is disposed on the inner side of the hole 36a, thereby supporting the developing roller 13. The support may be directly implemented by the hole 36a or may be implemented via a member.

The protruding portion 36i is provided at a side portion of the hole 36 a. The protruding portion 36i has a cylindrical shape. A phase restriction portion 36kb is provided on the inner side of the protruding portion 36i, the phase restriction portion 36kb restricting the position of the phase restriction boss 180e of the coupling member 180. The phase restriction portion 36kb has a substantially triangular hole portion in which the coupling member 180 is arranged. The phase restriction portion 36kb is constituted by a first inclination restriction portion 36kb1 and a second inclination restriction portion 36kb2, and the first inclination restriction portion 36kb1 and the second inclination restriction portion 36kb2 each constitute a part of a groove.

A support portion 36c for supporting the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 is provided at a position facing the hole 36a via a protruding portion 36 i. The support portion 36c has a protruding cylindrical shape.

The restricting portion 36b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 70 is provided below the supporting portion 36 c. The restriction portion 36b has a wall form protruding from the front portion 36f, and is located at an edge of the drive side developing bearing 36.

A contact surface 36d for contact with the drive side developing pressure spring 71 is provided below the protruding portion 36i via the restricting portion 36 b. In the same way as the restriction portion 36b, the contact surface 36d also has the form of a wall protruding from the front portion 36 f.

With respect to the direction in which the restriction portion 36b and the contact surface 36d are aligned, the hole 36j is provided so as to be sandwiched between the restriction portion 36b and the contact surface 36d when viewed from the front direction of fig. 47 (a). The hole 36j is provided to expose the drive gear and the like.

Therefore, the position of the coupling member 180 and the position of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 can be held with high accuracy by the driving-side developing bearing 36. It is also possible to maintain the position of the developing roller 13 and the position of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 with high accuracy.

Second embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 32. Fig. 32 is a side view of the developing cartridge B1 as seen from the driving side.

The configuration in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 is rotatably provided with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 36 has been described in the first embodiment. However, a configuration may be formed in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 is slidably disposed with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 362, as shown in fig. 32 (a) to 32 (d). The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Fig. 32 (a) is a side view and a sectional view around the driving-side contact/spacer bar 702, which observe a state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 from the driving side. The protruding portion 702b of the drive side contact/spacer bar 702 also engages the groove 362c of the drive side developer bearing 362. The protruding portion 702j of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 engages the groove 342y of the developing side cover 342. Accordingly, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 is capable of sliding (rectilinear motion) with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 362 and the developing side cover 342 in the directions of the arrows N72 and N82. The driving-side developing pressure spring 712 is provided with: one end 712d, the one end 712d being in contact with the third contact surface 702c of the drive side contact/spacer bar 702; and the other end portion 712e, the other end portion 712e being in contact with the contact surface 362d of the drive side developing bearing 362. In this configuration, as shown in fig. 32 (B), in the same manner as the first embodiment, the developing cartridge B1 receives the external force F11 by the contact of the second contact surface 150B of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the first contact surface 702a of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702. As a result, the developing roller 13 contacts the photosensitive drum 10 at a predetermined pressure.

Next, an operation of transitioning to a state in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced apart will be described. Fig. 32 (c) illustrates a state in which the driving-side device pressing member 150 is moved by a distance δ6 in the direction of the arrow N82, and the first contact surface 702a of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 702 and the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side device pressing member 150 are separated. At this time, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 receives the biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, slides in the direction of the arrow N82, and the regulating contact portion 702e of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 contacts the regulating portion 362b of the driving-side developing bearing 362. Thus, the drive side contact/spacer bar 702 is positioned.

Fig. 32 (d) illustrates a state in which the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is moved by a distance δ7 in the direction of the arrow N82. Since the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is further moved in the direction of the arrow N82, the separated surface 702g of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 702 is in contact with the first contact surface 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, so that the developing cartridge B1 is further moved in the direction of the arrow N82. As a result, the developing cartridge B1 swings in the direction of the arrow N5 centering on the supported protruding portion 80g (not shown) of the swing guide 80. At this time, the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in a spaced state, and a gap of a distance δ8 exists between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10.

The construction of the non-drive side is the same as that of the drive side. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and can produce the same advantages as the first embodiment (however, the relationship between the positioning error of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the compression amount of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 described in the first embodiment is not included).

Third embodiment

Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 42 (a) to 42 (d). The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Fig. 42 is a schematic view of the drive side contact/spacer bar 201 being a leaf spring.

The driving-side contact/spacer rod 201 shown in fig. 42 (a) to 42 (d) is an elastic portion formed of a material such as stainless steel. The driving-side contact/spacer bar 201 has a first contact surface 201a, a second contact surface 201b, a supporting portion 201d, and an elastically deforming portion 201h, wherein the supporting portion 201d is supported by a supported portion 202b of the bearing 202.

The driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 is provided with a first contact surface 203a and a second contact surface 203b and is slidable in the directions of arrow N7 and arrow N8.

The developing cartridge B1 is positioned by a driving-side swing guide 210 supported at a driving-side plate (not shown) so as to be swingable in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 about a supported portion 210B. The non-driving side is the same, and therefore the developing cartridge B1 can rotate in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 centering on the supported portion 210B.

When the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are pressed together, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 moves in the direction of the arrow N7, as shown in fig. 42 (a). The second contact surface 203b of the driving-side device pressing member 203 is in contact with the first contact surface 201a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201.

Further, when the driving-side device pressing member 203 moves in the direction of the arrow N7, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side device pressing member 203 deforms the elastically deforming portion 201h of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201, as shown in fig. 42 (b). In this state, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side device pressing member 203 applies the force F41 to the first contact surface 201a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201. At this time, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 receives the reaction force F42. Now, since the developing cartridge B1 is rotatable in the directions of the arrows N5 and N6 about the supported portion 201B, the developing cartridge B1 moves by the external force of the force F41 in the direction of the arrow N5. Therefore, the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

Further, when the driving-side device pressing member 203 moves in the direction of the arrow N7, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side device pressing member 203 deforms the elastically deforming portion 201h of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201, as shown in fig. 42 (c). In this state, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side device pressing member 203 applies the force F45 to the first contact surface 201a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201. At this time, the second contact surface 203b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 receives the reaction force F46 from the first contact surface 201a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201. Since the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 and the posture of the developing cartridge B1 is set, F45> F41 is maintained, and the developing roller 13 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10, as shown in fig. 42 (c).

In the case of spacing the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 moves in the direction of the arrow N8, as shown in fig. 42 (d). The first contact surface 203a of the driving-side device pressing member 203 is in contact with the second contact surface 201b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201.

Further, when the driving-side device pressing member 203 moves in the direction of the arrow N8, the first contact surface 203a of the driving-side device pressing member 203 applies the force F44 to the second contact surface 201b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201 while deforming the elastically deforming portion 201h of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201.

At this time, the first contact surface 203a of the driving-side device pressing member 203 receives the reaction force F43 from the second contact surface 201b of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201.

Now, the developing cartridge B1 is rotatable in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 about the supported portion 210B, and therefore the developing cartridge B1 is moved in the direction of the arrow N6 about the supported portion 210B, and the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the elastically deforming portion (elastic portion) 201h and the portion (movable portion) having the first contact surface 201a and the second contact surface 201b are integrally formed as a part of a single member. Specifically, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 201 is formed of a leaf spring. Therefore, the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 (see fig. 41 (a)) shown in the first embodiment is not required as a biasing member, which is a compression spring. Therefore, a space can be ensured, thus increasing the degree of freedom in design of the developing cartridge B1, or this results in downsizing.

Further, the driving-side contact/spacer 201 has a pressed surface (first contact surface 201 a) and a separated surface (second contact surface 201 b), as in the first embodiment. The pressing surface (second contact surface 203 b) and the separating surface (first contact surface 203 a) of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 act on the pressed surface and the separated surface, respectively. Therefore, by being a single portion of the driving-side contact/separation lever 201, the contact state and the separation state of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can be selected as needed. As a result, the configuration of the developing cartridge B1 can be simplified.

Although the driving side has been representatively described in the above description, the configuration of the non-driving side may be the same as the driving side. Further, the driving-side contact/spacer rod 201 may be a member formed of an elastically deformable resin material or the like.

In any of the above embodiments, a configuration can be applied in which the movable portion and the elastic portion of the present embodiment are integrally formed as one part of one member.

Fourth embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 43 (a) and 43 (b). The placement of the portion of the contact/spacer rod receiving the biasing force from the spring according to this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Fig. 43 is a schematic view in which the driving-side developing pressure springs 302 are arranged on opposite sides of a straight line passing through the center of the supported portion 301d of the driving-side contact/separation lever 301 and perpendicular to the direction of the arrow M1, the direction of the arrow M1 being the protruding direction of the first protruding portion 301 f.

As shown in fig. 43 (a), the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 has a first contact surface 301a, a second contact surface 301b, a third contact surface 301c, a supported portion 301d, a restricting contact portion 301e, and another end portion 301m. The driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 is rotatably supported by a support portion 306b with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 306 via a supported portion 301 d.

The driving-side developing pressure spring 302 is a compression spring in which one end portion 302d is in contact with the third contact surface 301c and the other end portion 302e is in contact with a contact surface 306d provided to the driving-side developing bearing 306.

Now, in the individual state of the developing cartridge B1, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 receives a force in the direction of the arrow F30 from the driving-side developing pressure spring 302 at the third contact surface 301 c. At this time, the rotation is in the direction of the arrow N10 centering on the supporting portion 306b, and the regulating contact portion 301e is brought into contact with the regulating portion 306e of the drive side developing bearing 306.

Further, the developing cartridge B1 is positioned by a driving-side swinging guide 310, which driving-side swinging guide 310 is supported so as to be swingable in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 about a supported portion 310B of a driving-side plate (not shown). The non-driving side is also the same, and therefore, the developing cartridge B1 can rotate in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 centering on the supported portion 310B.

The first contact surface 303a and the second contact surface 303b are provided to the driving-side device pressing member 303, and the driving-side device pressing member 303 is slidable in the directions of the arrow N7 and the arrow N8.

In the case of pressurizing the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in the direction of the arrow N7. The second contact surface 303b of the driving side device pressing member 303 is then brought into contact with the first contact surface 301a of the driving side contact/spacer bar 301. The driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 can rotate about the supporting portion 306b, and thus the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 rotates in the direction of N20 and the contact portion 301 is restricted from being separated from the restricting portion 306 e.

At this time, the third contact surface 301c of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 receives the biasing force F30 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 302, and the moment M10 in the direction of the arrow N10 acts on the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301. At this time, the second contact surface 303b of the driving-side device pressing member 303 is in contact with the first contact surface 301a of the driving-side contact/separation lever 301. Accordingly, the first contact surface 301a of the drive side contact/spacer rod 301 receives the force F32 from the second contact surface 303b of the drive side device pressing member 303, so that a moment balanced with the moment M10 will act on the drive side contact/spacer rod 301. Therefore, this means that an external force of the force F32 is acting on the developing cartridge B1.

Further, since the developing cartridge B1 is rotatable in the directions of the arrows N5 and N6 about the supported portion 310B, the developing cartridge B1 moves in the direction of the arrow N5 due to the external force of the force F32. At this time, the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. By the contact of the developing roller 13 with the photosensitive drum 10, the rotational posture of the developing cartridge B1 in the direction of arrow N5 is determined.

Further, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in the direction of the arrow N7, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 rotates in the direction of the arrow N20 centering on the supporting portion 306B because the developing cartridge B1 cannot rotate in the direction of the arrow N5. The third contact surface 301c of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 301 then receives the biasing force F31 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 302 (see fig. 43 (b)).

Now, the driving side developing pressure spring 302 is further compressed, and thus F31> F30 is maintained. The developing cartridge B1 has been unable to rotate in the direction of arrow N5, and thus presses the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10.

In a state where the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 are spaced apart, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in the direction of the arrow N8, and the first contact surface 303a contacts the second contact surface 301 b. The driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 can rotate in the direction of the arrow N10 centering on the supporting portion 306b, and thus the restricting contact portion 301e is brought into contact with the restricting portion 306e of the bearing 306, and the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 is positioned.

When the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 is further moved in the direction of the arrow N8, the developing cartridge B1 can be moved in the directions of the arrow N5 and the arrow N6 centering on the supported portion 310B, and therefore the developing cartridge B1 is moved in the direction of the arrow N6 centering on the supported portion 310B. The developing roller 13 is then spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 43 (a) and 43 (b), the distance between the first contact surface (force receiving portion) 301a and the third contact surface (biasing force receiving portion) 301c is longer than the distance between the first contact surface 301a and the supported portion 301d when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13. Therefore, the degree of freedom is increased for the positioning placement of the member equivalent to the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 described in the first embodiment, and thus the degree of freedom of design is also increased, the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 serving as a biasing member which is a compression spring.

Further, the driving-side contact/spacer lever 301 has a pressed surface (first contact surface 301 a) and a separated surface (second contact surface 301 g), as described in the first embodiment. The pressing surface (second contact surface 303 b) and the separating surface (first contact surface 303 a) of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 act on the pressed surface and the separated surface, respectively. Accordingly, the contact state and the spacing state of the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13 can be selected as required by a single part, which is the driving-side contact/spacing lever 301. As a result, the configuration of the developing cartridge B1 can be simplified.

The following configuration can be adopted as a modification of the fourth embodiment. In the present modification, as shown in fig. 54, a restricting portion 336b is provided to the drive side developing bearing 336. The position of the pressure spring 71 is the same as that of the first embodiment in the present embodiment, and in the configuration, the protruding portion (restrained portion) 360b is provided opposite the supporting portion 36c so that the protruding portion 360b is in contact with the restrained portion 336 b. This configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, in which the biasing force from the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is received at the biasing force receiving portion 370 c.

According to the present embodiment, the degree of freedom in placement of the restriction portion 336b in the drive-side developing bearing 336 is increased. By increasing the distance from the support portion 36c, the force applied to the restriction portion 336b is made able to be reduced, thereby making it possible to suppress deformation of the container. That is, the relationship among the first contact surface 370a pressed from the second contact surface 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, the supporting portion 36c, and the protruding portion 360b is as follows. The distance between the first contact surface 370a and the protruding portion 360b is longer than the distance between the first contact surface 370a and the supporting portion 36c when viewed from the axial direction of the developing roller 13. Although the driving side has been representatively described in the above description, the non-driving side may have the same configuration.

Moreover, the placement of the third contact surface (force receiving portion) 301c according to the present embodiment and/or the restriction portion 336b according to the present modification can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments.

Fifth embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 50. The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that only the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is arranged on the non-driving side of the developing cartridge B1. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 and the driving side developing pressure spring 71 are not provided on the driving side of the developing cartridge B1, as shown in fig. 50 (broken line portion). On the other hand, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 and the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 (not shown) are provided only on the non-driving side. That is, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 and the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 are disposed only at the side where the coupling member 180 of the developing frame is not disposed with respect to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13. Note that the side portion of the coupling member 180 where the developing frame is not disposed with respect to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13 refers to the side portion of the middle of the direction cartridge B1 where the coupling member 180 is not disposed with respect to the rotation axis of the developing roller 13.

The coupling member 180 rotates at the driving side in the direction of arrow X6 as shown in fig. 8. The developing cartridge B1 receiving the rotational force thereof swings integrally with the driving-side swing guide 80 centering on the supporting portion 90c (see fig. 27 (a)) in the direction of the arrow N6 shown in fig. 27 (a). When a sufficiently large moment in the direction N6 is generated due to the driving force received by the coupling member 180, it is sufficient to press the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side.

On the other hand, the moment in the direction N6 due to the driving force received by the coupling member 180 obtained at the non-driving side is not equal to the moment obtained at the driving side, and thus the configuration uses the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 in the same manner as the first embodiment.

The configuration according to the present embodiment, in which the non-driving side contact/spacer bars 72 are provided only at the non-driving side, can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments. The application of the present embodiment can reduce the number of parts to cut costs by omitting the driving side contact/spacer bar 70.

< Sixth embodiment >

A sixth embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 51 (a) to 52 (b). The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the first force receiving portion that receives the force when contacting the developing roller 13 is provided only at one end portion of the cartridge B1, and the second force receiving portion that receives the force when spacing the developing roller 13 is provided only at the other end portion. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Fig. 51 is a diagram illustrating the developing roller 13 in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Fig. 51 (a) is a diagram illustrating the driving side contact/spacer bar 170 and the driving side bearing 236 supporting the driving side contact/spacer bar 170, and fig. 51 (b) is a diagram illustrating the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72 and the non-driving side developing bearing 246 supporting the non-driving side contact/spacer bar 72.

The driving-side contact/spacing lever 170 is rotatably supported by the driving-side bearing 236 at the driving side, which is the other end portion with respect to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13, as shown in fig. 51. However, the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 as shown in the first embodiment is not provided. Therefore, when the driving-side device pressing member 150 moves in the direction of the arrow N7, the driving-side contact/separation lever 170 rotates in the counterclockwise direction centering on the supporting portion 236 c. However, a force pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 cannot be applied to the driving-side developing bearing 236 to operate the driving-side contact/spacing lever 170. However, as in the fifth embodiment, since the coupling member 180 receives the driving force, the driving side receives the moment in the direction of bringing the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Therefore, the developing roller 13 can be pressed against the photosensitive drum 10 by this moment.

On the other hand, as in the first embodiment, the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 is provided on the non-driving side, which is the other end portion with respect to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13. The first contact surface 72a of the non-driving side contact/spacer lever 72 presses the non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 by being pressed and rotated by the non-driving side device pressing member 151, which moves in the N7 direction, thereby pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10.

Fig. 52 is a diagram showing the developing roller 13 spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

The driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moving in the direction of the arrow N8 brings the driving-side contact/spacer lever 170 into contact with the regulating portion 236b of the driving-side developing bearing 236. The driving-side device pressing member 150 further moving in the direction of the arrow N8 presses the separated portion 170g of the driving-side contact/separation lever 170 that moves the developing cartridge B1, and spaces the developing roller 13 from the photosensitive drum 10.

Note that, a configuration may be formed in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 170 is fixed to the driving-side bearing 236, or a portion equivalent to the separated portion 170g may be formed integrally with the driving-side developing bearing 236.

On the other hand, the non-driving side does not have the restriction portion 46e for the non-driving side contact/separation lever 72 shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, by moving the non-driving side apparatus pressing member 151 in the direction of the arrow N8, only the non-driving side contact/spacing lever 72 is rotated in the clockwise direction centering on the supporting portion 246f, and is not used to space the developing roller 13 from the photosensitive drum 10. The non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 is at its natural length at this time. The non-driving side developing pressure spring 73 may be spaced apart from the non-driving side contact/spacing lever 72 at this time.

However, the force for spacing is received at the drive side, and thus spacing can also be implemented at the non-drive side by setting the rigidity of the drive side bearing 236 to a certain level or higher as well. In implementing this spacing, the developing roller 13 may be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 in an inclined manner. That is, the developing roller 13 is greatly spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side, but the amount of spacing at the non-driving side is smaller than that at the driving side. Therefore, the rigidity of the drive-side bearing 236 is increased so that the amount of spacing is equal to or greater than the minimum value of the amount of spacing required between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10. Therefore, the first force receiving portion (first contact surface 72 a) that receives the force when the developing roller 13 is brought into contact in the present embodiment is provided only at one end portion of the cartridge B1. Further, a second force receiving portion (separated portion 170 g) that receives a force when the developing roller 13 is spaced apart is provided only at the other end portion of the cartridge B1. That is, two portions (a first force receiving portion and a second force receiving portion) that receive forces, which are a force when the developing roller 13 is brought into contact and a force when the developing roller 13 is spaced apart, from different directions (opposite directions) of the apparatus main body are provided to the developing cartridge B1. Further, with respect to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13, the two portions (the first force receiving portion and the second force receiving portion) are provided at one end portion and the other end portion of the developing cartridge B1.

The configurations of the first force receiving portion and the second force receiving portion according to the present embodiment can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments, except the fifth embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, the drive side developing pressure spring 71 is not required, and therefore the cost can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment. Further, at the non-driving side, the amount of movement of the developing cartridge B1 at the time of spacing can be smaller, and therefore wear at the non-driving side swing guide 81 that movably supports the developing cartridge B1 can be suppressed.

< Seventh embodiment >

Next, a seventh embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 53. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the non-driving-side contact/spacer lever 72 are positioned in a state held between the restricting portions 36b and 46e and the pressure springs 71 and 73. However, a configuration may be made in which the driving-side contact/spacer lever 270 is not positioned between the driving-side developing pressure spring 171 and the regulating portion 36b (the same configuration may also be formed at the non-driving side), as shown in fig. 53. According to this configuration, it can be applied to a case where the free length of the driving-side developing pressure spring 171 is short.

The spacer lever 270 contacts the restriction portion 36b due to the movement of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 in the direction N7 (see fig. 28). The spacer 270 also compresses the pressure spring 171 by the action of the movement in the direction N8. Now, the restricting portion 36b is provided at a position where it can restrict the movement of the driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 in a direction away from the developing roller 13.

The configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to any of the above embodiments.

< Eighth embodiment >

An eighth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to fig. 55 (a) to 56 (b). The configuration of the coupling member according to the present embodiment is different from that of the above-described embodiment. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, no clutch mechanism is provided at the apparatus main body A1 side, the coupling member 180 is engageable with the main body driving member 100 being rotated, and the coupling member 180 is separated from the main body driving member 100 being rotated. As to the specific configuration for this purpose, it has been achieved by a configuration in which the coupling member 180 can be inclined.

The coupling configuration to be described in the present embodiment is capable of engaging and disengaging the main body driving member 100 being rotated without providing a clutch mechanism at the apparatus main body A1 side as in the first embodiment.

Fig. 55 (a) is a perspective view showing a coupling member 280 provided to the developing cartridge B2 according to the present embodiment. The developing side cover 34 is not shown. Fig. 55 (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the coupling member 280 is being assembled.

The coupling member 280 is configured to be capable of advancing and retracting in the direction of the rotation axis L2 of the coupling member 280 within the drive input gear 127. The biasing member 130 is disposed between the coupling member 280 and the drive input gear 127, and the coupling member 280 is always biased to the outside in the direction of the axis L2. The rotational force receiving portions 280a1 and 280a2 provided to the coupling member 280 receive driving forces from the main body side driving member 100 (see fig. 8 (a) to 8 (e)). Further, the rotational force transmitting portions 280c1 and 280c2 transmit the driving force to the developing roller 13 by transmitting the driving force to the rotational force transmitted portions 127d1 and 127d2 of the driving input gear 127.

An outer conical surface 280e is provided on the distal end side of the coupling member 280. The portion is brought into contact with the distal end face of the main body side driving member 100 (see fig. 8 (a) to 8 (e)) to be retracted to the inside in the direction of the axis L2 and engaged with the main body side driving member 100. The conical portion 280g is provided on the inner side of the outer conical surface 280e in the same manner as the first embodiment, and thus is brought into contact with the tip end surface of the main body side driving member 100 so as to retract to the inner side in the direction of the axis L2 and separate from the main body side driving member 100 in the same manner.

According to the above configuration, in the case where the clutch mechanism is not provided on the apparatus main body A1 side, it is made possible to engage the main body side driving member 100 being rotated and to disengage from the main body side driving member 100 being rotated.

The driving-side contact/spacer lever 70 and the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 are also provided in the same manner as the first embodiment.

Fig. 56 (a) is a front view of the present embodiment, and fig. 56 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in fig. 56 (a).

The coupling member 280 is supported by the biasing member 130 to be movable in the direction of the axis L2. A cylinder outer diameter portion 280h (sliding portion) provided to the coupling member 280 is slidably supported in a cylinder inner diameter portion (sliding portion) 136h in the driving side developing bearing 136.

As shown in fig. 56 (b), the cylinder outer diameter portion 280h (sliding portion) and the cylinder inner diameter portion (sliding portion) 136h are arranged to at least partially overlap the driving side developing pressure spring 71 in the direction of the axis L2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the moment that is generated by the force generated by the drive-side developing pressure spring 71 to twist the drive-side developing bearing 136, and suppress the deformation influence with respect to the sliding portions 280h and 136 h. Therefore, the advance and retraction of the coupling member 280 in the direction of the axis L2 can be not hindered.

Also, a plane L2X orthogonal to the biasing direction L2 of the biasing member 130 will be defined. Therefore, the angle θ formed by the biasing direction L4 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the plane L2X is preferably between-45 ° - θ +.45° (-45 ° or more and +45° or less). Other preferred ranges are-10 DEG.ltoreq.θ.ltoreq. +10 DEG (-10 DEG or more and +10 DEG or less). More preferred values are θ≡0 ° (0 ° or substantially 0 °). Therefore, the influence of the biasing member 130 on the biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 can be suppressed. That is, although the coupling member 280 receives the transmission from the main body side driving member 100, the biasing member 130 is always in the biased state. At this time, if the force component generated by the biasing member 130 does not significantly act in the direction of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, the influence on the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is reduced, and the accuracy of the pressing force is improved.

The configuration of the coupling member 280 according to the present embodiment can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments, and the relationship between the biasing directions L4 and L2 can be achieved as in the present embodiment.

< Ninth embodiment >

A ninth embodiment to which the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to fig. 57 (a) and 57 (b). The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that it has no restriction portion. The configuration not described is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The cartridge B1 according to the present embodiment does not have an equivalent member equivalent to the regulating portion 36B provided to the drive-side developing bearing 436 in the first embodiment. Therefore, the elastic force of the spring 471 is used in a case where the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

One end portion of the spring 471 as a torsion spring engages the driving side developing bearing 436 by being held between the engaging portions 436d1 and 436d2 of the driving side developing bearing 436, as shown in fig. 57 (a) and 57 (b). On the other hand, the other end portion of the spring 471 engages the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 by being held between the engaging portions 470c1 and 470c2 of the driving side contact/spacer lever 470.

Fig. 57 (a) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with a photosensitive drum, not shown. The first contact surface 470a of the driving-side contact/spacing lever 470 is pressed in the direction of N7 by the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, and therefore in the state of the compression spring 471, the developing roller 13 is in a state of contact with the photosensitive drum. At this time, one end of the spring 471 abuts against the engaging portion 436d1, and the other end of the spring 471 abuts against the engaging portion 470c1, and thus the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 receives a biasing force from the spring 471 via the engaging portion 470c 1. Therefore, an appropriate contact pressure can be maintained between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum.

Fig. 57 (b) is a diagram showing that the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum. The separated portion 470g of the driving side contact/spacer lever 470 is pressed by the driving side device pressing member 150 in the direction N8, so that one end portion of the spring 471 abuts against the engaging portion 436d2, and the other end portion of the spring 471 abuts against the engaging portion 470c2. Thus, the spring 471 is in a state of being extended beyond its natural length.

Therefore, the elasticity of the spring 471 can be used to move the driving-side developing bearing 436 to move in a direction in which the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum. Accordingly, the developing roller can be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum by the elastic force of the spring by extending the spring beyond its natural length.

< Other matters >

Note that, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the developing cartridge B1 or B2 and the drum cartridge C are separated. That is, the configuration is such that the developing device is formed as a cartridge, a developing cartridge B1 or B2 that is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10 and is attached/detached to/from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. However, the above-described embodiments can be applied to other configurations besides these configurations.

For example, each of the configurations in the above-described embodiments can be applied to a configuration in which the developing cartridge B1 or B2 and the drum cartridge C are not separated. That is, this may be a configuration in which a process cartridge is attached/detached to/from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, which is configured by rotatably coupling the developing cartridge B1 or B2 (developing device) to the drum cartridge C. That is, the process cartridge has the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing device. As in each of the embodiments, the process cartridge has a first movable member 120 and a second movable member 121.

An example of the process cartridge will be described below. Fig. 49 (a) and 49 (b) are views of the process cartridge BC mounted to the apparatus main body A2 as viewed from the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13. Fig. 49 (a) illustrates a state in which the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10, and fig. 49 (b) illustrates a state in which the developing roller 13 is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

Fig. 49 illustrates a driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 as a part of the apparatus main body A2. The configuration of the apparatus main body A2 is the same as the apparatus main body A1 described in the above-described embodiment, except that a guide member (not shown) is provided to guide the attachment/detachment of the process cartridge BC and there is no driving-side swing guide 80 or non-driving-side swing guide 81. Naturally, the same non-driving side device pressing member 151 as in the device main body A1 is provided on the non-driving side of the device main body A2.

The process cartridge BC mainly has: a driving side developing bearing 536, the driving side developing bearing 536 serving as a developing frame; a photosensitive member support frame 521 and a coupling member 180. The drive side developing bearing 536 supports the developing roller 13, the drive side contact/spacer lever 70, and the non-drive side contact/spacer lever 72 (not shown). The configuration of the driving-side developing bearing 536 is the same as that of the driving-side developing bearing 36 in the above-described embodiment except that it has a boss 536a rotatably supported by the groove 521a of the photosensitive member supporting frame 521, and thus the details of the same portions will be omitted. The photosensitive member support frame 521 supports the photosensitive drum 10.

The drive side developing bearing 536 can rotate relative to the photosensitive member support frame 521 with the boss 536a as the rotation center by supporting the boss 536a by the groove 521 a. A not-shown spring, from which the not-shown spring is connected to the photosensitive member supporting frame 521, biases the driving-side developing bearing 536 in a direction in which the developing roller 13 contacts the photosensitive drum 10. Note that the groove 521a may be a circular hole.

In a state in which the process cartridge BC is mounted to the apparatus main body A2, the photosensitive member support frame 521 is positioned and fixed immovably by a positioning portion, not shown, of the apparatus main body A2. The first contact surface 70a of the driving-side contact/spacer bar 70 at the driving side is pressed by the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, and thus the driving-side developing bearing 536 rotates counterclockwise with the boss 536a as the rotation center, as shown in fig. 49 (a). Therefore, the developing roller 13 can be in contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

Also, at the driving side, the separated portion 70g of the driving side contact/spacer lever 70 is pressed by the driving side apparatus pressing member 150, and thus the driving side developing bearing 536 rotates clockwise with the boss 536a as the rotation center, as shown in fig. 49 (b). Therefore, the developing roller 13 can be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 10.

Accordingly, a configuration in which the developing cartridge B1 or B2 is replaced with the process cartridge BC may be formed in any of the above embodiments.

The present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, and various variations and modifications are possible. Accordingly, to assess the scope of the invention, the following claims are presented.

The present application claims the benefit of Japanese patent application No.2014-242577 filed on the date of 2014, 11, 28, 2014-242602 filed on the date of 2014, 11, 28, 2014-242578, 2014-242601 filed on the date of 2014, 11, 28, and 2015-231356 filed on the date of 2015, 11, 27, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Reference numerals

13: Developing roller

16: Developing container

34: Developing side cover

36: Driving side developing bearing

46: Non-driving side developing bearing

70: Drive side contact/spacer bar

71: Driving side developing pressure spring

72: Non-driving side contact/spacer bar

73: Non-driving side developing pressure spring

A1: main assembly of equipment

B1: developing cartridge

Claims

1. A cartridge mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the apparatus main assembly mounted with a photosensitive drum separated from the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:

A developing roller including an elastic layer for carrying a developer, wherein the elastic layer is capable of being pressed against the photosensitive drum;

a frame supporting the developing roller;

A movable portion movably supported by the frame to be movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the frame, and including a force receiving portion;

An elastic portion provided between the frame and the movable portion so as to press the movable portion;

a drive input member for receiving an input of a rotational force to rotate the developing roller; and

A pressing member for pressing the drive input member,

Wherein the force receiving portion is adapted to receive an external force from the apparatus main assembly in a direction to move the movable portion from the first position to the second position, such that the elastic layer is pressed against the photosensitive drum when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main assembly,

Wherein when the movable portion receives a force at the force receiving portion and is at the second position, the movable portion receives a pressing force from the elastic portion in a direction to move the movable portion from the second position toward the first position, and

Wherein an angle formed by a pressing direction in which the elastic portion presses the movable portion and a plane orthogonal to a pressing direction in which the pressing member presses the driving input member is-45 degrees or more and +45 degrees or less,

Wherein in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus main assembly, the developing roller is in a contact position with the photosensitive drum when the movable portion is in the second position, and is in a spaced position spaced apart from the photosensitive drum when the movable portion is in the first position.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the angle is greater than or equal to-10 degrees and less than or equal to +10 degrees.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the angle is approximately 0 degrees.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said developing roller is disposed at one end side of said frame and a force receiving portion of said movable portion is disposed at the other end side of said frame with respect to a first direction parallel to a straight line connecting a rotation center of said developing roller and a rotation center of said drive input member, as viewed in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

5. A cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said frame has a recording medium contact portion contactable with a recording medium conveyed through an interior of said apparatus main assembly, said recording medium contact portion being disposed closer to said developing roller than said force receiving portion of said movable portion with respect to a first direction when viewed in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion includes a supported portion rotatably supported by the frame.

7. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein a distance between said supported portion and a portion receiving urging force from said elastic portion of said movable portion is shorter than a distance between said supported portion and said force receiving portion as seen in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

8. The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the frame has a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer, and

Wherein a rotation center of the movable portion is arranged at a position overlapping with the developer accommodating portion when viewed in a rotation axis direction of the developing roller.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

A storage plate; and

An electrode portion electrically connected to the memory board and capable of being electrically connected to the apparatus main assembly,

Wherein a surface of the electrode portion is exposed from the cartridge and intersects a moving direction in which the force receiving portion of the movable portion moves when the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the frame has a restraining portion that contacts the movable portion in the first position.

11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein when the movable portion does not receive a force at the force receiving portion, the movable portion receives a pressing force from the elastic portion and abuts against the restricting portion in the first position.

12. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a further movable portion movably supported by the frame so as to be movable independently of the movable portion; and

And another elastic portion provided between the frame and the another movable portion, and pressing the another movable portion.

13. A cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said movable portion is supported at a side of said frame where said drive input member of said frame is disposed, with respect to a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, said other movable portion is disposed at a side of said frame where said drive input member of said frame is not disposed,

Wherein the urging force of the elastic portion is smaller than the urging force of the other elastic portion.

14. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the movable portion has a first protruding portion protruding beyond the frame and the other movable portion has a second protruding portion protruding beyond the frame.

15. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said first protruding portion is exposed from said frame when viewed from one end side in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, and said second protruding portion is exposed from said frame when viewed from the other end side in the rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

16. A cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said movable portion moves in a plane orthogonal to a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, and said other movable portion moves in another plane orthogonal to said rotation axis direction.

17. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion has a protruding portion protruding beyond said frame, said protruding portion having a portion curved toward a developing roller side.

18. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the movable portion has another force receiving portion that receives a force in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position, and

Wherein in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus main assembly, the developing roller is in a contact position with the photosensitive drum when the movable portion receives a force from the apparatus main assembly at the force receiving portion and is in the second position, and is in a spaced position from the photosensitive drum when the movable portion is in the first position and receives a force from the apparatus main assembly at the other force receiving portion.

19. A cartridge mountable to a device main assembly of an image forming device, the cartridge comprising:

a photosensitive drum;

a frame supporting the developing roller;

a movable portion movably supported by the frame to be movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the frame and the photosensitive drum, and including a force receiving portion;

A pressing member for pressing the drive input member,

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the angle is greater than or equal to-10 degrees and less than or equal to +10 degrees.

21. The cartridge of claim 20, wherein the angle is approximately 0 degrees.

22. A cartridge according to claim 19, wherein said developing roller is disposed at one end side of said frame, and said force receiving portion of said movable portion is disposed at the other end side of said frame, with respect to a first direction parallel to a straight line connecting a rotation center of said developing roller and a rotation center of said drive input member, as seen in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

23. A cartridge according to claim 22, wherein said frame has a recording medium contact portion contactable with a recording medium conveyed through an interior of said apparatus main assembly, said recording medium contact portion being disposed closer to said developing roller than said force receiving portion of said movable portion with respect to a first direction when viewed in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

24. The cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the movable portion includes a supported portion rotatably supported by the frame.

25. A cartridge according to claim 24, wherein a distance between said supported portion and a portion receiving urging force from said elastic portion of said movable portion is shorter than a distance between said supported portion and said force receiving portion as seen in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

26. The cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the frame has a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer, and

27. The cartridge of claim 19, further comprising:

A storage plate; and

28. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the frame has a limit portion that contacts the movable portion in the first position.

29. The cartridge according to claim 28, wherein when the movable portion does not receive a force at the force receiving portion, the movable portion receives a pressing force from the elastic portion and abuts against the restricting portion in the first position.

30. The cartridge of claim 19, further comprising:

31. A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said movable portion is supported at a side of said frame where said drive input member of said frame is disposed, with respect to a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, said other movable portion is disposed at a side of said frame where said drive input member of said frame is not disposed,

32. The cartridge of claim 30, wherein the movable portion has a first protruding portion protruding beyond the frame and the other movable portion has a second protruding portion protruding beyond the frame.

33. A cartridge according to claim 32, wherein said first protruding portion is exposed from said frame when viewed from one end side in a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, and said second protruding portion is exposed from said frame when viewed from the other end side in the rotation axis direction of said developing roller.

34. A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said movable portion moves in a plane orthogonal to a rotation axis direction of said developing roller, and said other movable portion moves in another plane orthogonal to said rotation axis direction.

35. A cartridge according to claim 19, wherein said movable portion has a protruding portion protruding beyond said frame, said protruding portion having a portion curved toward a developing roller side.

36. A cartridge according to any one of claims 19 to 35, wherein the movable portion has a further force receiving portion that receives a force in a direction moving from the second position to the first position, and