Image forming unit and image forming apparatus

• US 6,493,528 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Inomata, Mitsugu, Sameshima, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra
• Application Number:
  US09/793,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 399/90, 399/101, 399/110, 399/111, 399/113, 399/302, 399/308, 399/358, 399/360
• US Class Current: 399/111
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/161 with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1609 for space saving, e.g. structural arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/168 for the transfer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1817 having a submodular arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1821 means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation G03G21/1825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0177 Rotating set of developing units
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1603 for multicoloured copies
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

An image forming unit is detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a first unit including an image bearing member, and a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which is transferred a toner image on the image bearing member. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Claims

1. An image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit comprising:

an image bearing member;

an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image on said image bearing member is transferred,

wherein the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material; and

containing means for containing the toner collected from said image bearing member by cleaning means,

wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.

2. An image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the toner on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to said image bearing member and is contained in said containing means.

3. An image forming unit according to claim 2, further comprising charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, prior to the transfer of the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.

4. An image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the toner collected from said image bearing member is contained through a toner conveying path in said containing means.

5. An image forming unit according to claim 4, further comprising a rod-shaped member for preventing toner clogging in said toner conveying path.

6. An image forming unit according to claim 5, wherein an end of said rod-shaped member is supported by a rotary member at a position out of the center of rotation thereof.

7. An image forming unit according to claim 6, wherein said rod-shaped member has a bent form.

8. An image forming unit according to claim 6, wherein said rod-shaped member is maintained free at the other end, and is rocked by the rotation of said rotary member.

9. An image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said intermediate transfer member is positioned in an inclined state with respect to said image forming apparatus.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit including an image bearing member,

an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image on said image bearing member is transferred, and

containing means for containing the toner collected from said image bearing member by cleaning means,

wherein the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and

in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said image bearing member is positioned above said intermediate transfer member and said containing means is positioned below said intermediate transfer member.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the toner on said intermediate transfer member is transferred to said image bearing member and is contained in said containing means.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising charging means for charging the toner on said intermediate transfer member, prior to the transfer of the toner on said intermediate transfer member to said image bearing member.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the toner collected from said image bearing member is contained through a toner conveying path in said containing means.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a rod-shaped member for preventing toner clogging in said toner conveying path.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an end of said rod-shaped member is supported by a rotary member at a position out of the center of rotation thereof.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said rod-shaped member has a bent form.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said rod-shaped member is maintained free at the other end, and is rocked by the rotation of said rotary member.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, said intermediate transfer member is positioned in an inclined state with respect to said image forming apparatus.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in a state where said image forming unit is mounted to the main body of said image forming apparatus, a recording material conveying path is formed below said image forming unit.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an electric power supply unit is provided below said recording material conveying path, wherein electric power supply paths from said electric power supply unit are provided on both sides of said recording material conveying path.