ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20070160384A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Hiromi, Noguchi, Tomio, Imaizumi, Chikara
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/110
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0136 transfer member separable from recording member or vice versa, mode switching
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0178 using more than one reusable electrographic recording member, e.g. one for every monocolour image
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0189 primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0194 primary transfer to the final recording medium G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1623 Means to access the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1842 for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1869 Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein

Abstract

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member is usable, the apparatus includes a transfer member contactable to the photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from the photosensitive member thereonto; a tray for carrying the cartridge, the tray being movable between a contact position in which the photosensitive member is contacted to the transfer member in a state that tray carries the cartridge and a spaced position in which the photosensitive member is spaced from the transfer member in the state that tray carries the cartridge; a supporting member for supporting the tray for movement in a tangent line direction which is parallel with a tangent line between the photosensitive member and the transfer member as seen in an axial direction of the photosensitive member between a first position for positioning the tray at the contact position and a second position which is retracted from the first position away from the transfer member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axial direction and to the tangent line and in the tangent line direction to position the tray at the spaced position; a portion to be engaged; an engaging portion provided in the tray and engageable with the portion to be engaged to regulate movement of the tray in the tangent line direction when the tray is at the contact position, wherein the engaging portion is disengaged from the portion to be engaged after the electrophotographic photosensitive member is spaced from the transfer member by movement of the tray in the perpendicular direction in a state of engagement with the portion to be engaged, when the supporting member moves from the first position toward the second position.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member is usable, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a transfer member contactable to said electrophotographic photosensitive member to transfer a toner image from said electrophotographic photosensitive member thereonto;

a tray for carrying said process cartridge, said tray being movable between a contact position in which said electrophotographic photosensitive member is contacted to said transfer member in a state that tray carries said process cartridge and a spaced position in which said electrophotographic photosensitive member is spaced from said transfer member in the state that tray carries said process cartridge;

a supporting member for supporting said tray for movement in a tangent line direction which is parallel with a tangent line between said electrophotographic photosensitive member and said transfer member as seen in an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive member between a first position for positioning said tray at the contact position and a second position which is retracted from the first position away from said transfer member in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axial direction and to the tangent line and in the tangent line direction to position said tray at the spaced position;

a portion to be engaged; and

an engaging portion provided in said tray and engageable with said portion to be engaged to regulate movement of said tray in the tangent line direction when said tray is at the contact position, wherein said engaging portion is disengaged from said portion to be engaged after said electrophotographic photosensitive member is spaced from said transfer member by movement of said tray in the perpendicular direction in a state of engagement with said portion to be engaged, when said supporting member moves from the first position toward the second position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tangent line direction is substantially a horizontal direction, and the perpendicular direction is substantially a vertical direction.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tray is capable of carrying a plurality of such process cartridges.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion to be engaged is provided on said transfer member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a main assembly frame having an opening;

and a main assembly door movable between a closing position for closing said opening and an opening position for opening said opening, wherein the contact position is such that when said main assembly door is at the closing position, it is in said main assembly frame, and a latent image can be formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said spaced position includes a mounting and demounting position which is outside said main assembly frame to permit mounting and demounting of said process cartridge when said main assembly door is at the opening position, and a movable position which is between the mounting and demounting position and the latent image formation position and in which movement to the latent image formation position in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from the opening position to the closing position is permitted.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said engaging portion includes a recess provided in said tray, and said portion to be engaged includes a projection provided on said main assembly frame and engageable with said recess.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said engaging portion is provided on a cartridge positioning member of said tray to position said process cartridge.