ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20110164897A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: KIKUCHI, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/111
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0121 for developing
• 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 21/1825 Pivotable subunit connection
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0141 the linear arrangement being horizontal
• 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

A downsized electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a drawer member mounting a photosensitive drum and a developing unit is mounted into a main assembly of the apparatus, and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum can be contacted and spaced relative to each other is provided. It includes a process cartridge, a main assembly of the apparatus, and a drawer member 13 movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly of the apparatus and which the drawer member 13 supports the process cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus. The drawer member 13 further includes a contacting and spacing member 42 capable of taking a contacting position for contacting the developing roller to the photosensitive drum and a spacing position for spacing the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be supplied to said developing roller;

a main assembly; and

a supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside said main assembly of the apparatus and in which said supporting member demountably supports said process cartridge and an outside position outside said main assembly,

wherein said supporting member includes a contacting and spacing member capable of taking a contacting position for contacting said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member and a spacing position for spacing said developing roller from said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contacting and spacing member includes a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for moving between the contacting position and the spacing position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when said supporting member is in the outside position, said contacting and spacing member is in the spacing position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said process cartridge includes an urging member for urging said developing roller toward said electrophotographic photosensitive member to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and wherein when said supporting member is in the inside position, said urging member urges said developing roller to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, by said contacting and spacing member moving from the spacing position to the contacting position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said process cartridge includes an urging member for urging said developing roller toward said electrophotographic photosensitive member to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and wherein when said supporting member is in the inside position, said urging member urges said developing roller to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, by said contacting and spacing member moving from the spacing position to the contacting position.

5. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member while contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be supplied to said developing roller;

a main assembly; and

a supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside said main assembly of the apparatus and in which said supporting member demountably supports said developing cartridge and an outside position outside said main assembly,

wherein said supporting member includes a contacting and spacing member capable of taking a contacting position for contacting said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member and a spacing position for spacing said developing roller from said electrophotographic photosensitive member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said contacting and spacing member includes a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for moving between the contacting position and the spacing position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein when said supporting member is in the outside position, said contacting and spacing member is in the spacing position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said main assembly includes an urging member for urging said developing cartridge to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein when said supporting member is in the inside position, said urging member urges said developing cartridge to move said contacting and spacing member from the spacing position to the contacting position, so that said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member contact to each other.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said main assembly includes an urging member for urging said developing cartridge to contact said developing roller to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein when said supporting member is in the inside position, said urging member urges said developing cartridge to move said contacting and spacing member from the spacing position to the contacting position, so that said developing roller and said electrophotographic photosensitive member contact to each other.